The systematic review revealed widespread utilization of developmentally appropriate QL instruments but less frequent use of both self and proxy reports and an inconsistent approach to age group specificities .
Research on the quality of life ( QL ) of children/adolescents with psychological disorders has flourished over the last few decades .
Given the developmental challenges of QL measurements in pediatric population s , the aim of this study was to ascertain the extent to which a developmental approach to  QL assessment has been applied to pedopsychiatric QL research .
Effect of melatonin on sleep, behavior, and cognition in ADHD and chronic sleep-onset insomnia.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of melatonin treatment on sleep , behavior , cognition , and quality of life in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) and chronic sleep onset insomnia . METHOD A total of 105 medication-free children , ages 6 to 12 years , with rigorously diagnosed ADHD and chronic sleep onset insomnia participated in a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial using 3 or 6 mg melatonin ( depending on body weight ) , or placebo for 4 weeks . Primary outcome parameters were actigraphy-derived sleep onset , total time asleep , and salivary dim light melatonin onset . RESULTS Sleep onset advanced by 26.9 + /- 47.8 minutes with melatonin and delayed by 10.5 + /- 37.4 minutes with placebo ( p < .0001 ) . There was an advance in dim light melatonin onset of 44.4 + /- 67.9 minutes in melatonin and a delay of 12.8 + /- 60.0 minutes in placebo ( p < .0001 ) . Total time asleep increased with melatonin ( 19.8 + /- 61.9 minutes ) as compared to placebo ( -13.6 + /- 50.6 minutes ; p = .01 ) . There was no significant effect on behavior , cognition , and quality of life , and significant adverse events did not occur . CONCLUSION Melatonin advanced circadian rhythms of sleep-wake and endogenous melatonin and enhanced total time asleep in children with ADHD and chronic sleep onset insomnia ; however , no effect was found on problem behavior , cognitive performance , or quality of life
The systematic review revealed widespread utilization of developmentally appropriate QL instruments but less frequent use of both self and proxy reports and an inconsistent approach to age group specificities .
Research on the quality of life ( QL ) of children/adolescents with psychological disorders has flourished over the last few decades .
Given the developmental challenges of QL measurements in pediatric population s , the aim of this study was to ascertain the extent to which a developmental approach to  QL assessment has been applied to pedopsychiatric QL research .