ABSTRACT
Malcolm is 8 years old. Every night, he insists that one of his parents stay with him when he sleeps. If his parents refuse, Malcolm becomes inconsolable, crying and screaming. He tells his parents that when they are not with him at night he is afraid that a burglar will break into the house and kill them all. Even with a parent present, Malcolm requires up to 60 minutes to fall asleep because he “keeps listening for strange noises.” His parents find that it is easier to sleep with him in his bed than to try to get him to sleep independently. Malcolm often wakes up in the middle of the night to check that his parent is still with him. He worries about his sleep and feels “different” because his friends have sleepovers and go away to camp in the summer. As Malcolm puts it, they “just don’t have these problems.” Both Malcolm and his parents feel excessively tired during the daytime. Teachers have reported that Malcolm has difficulty completing his schoolwork and falls asleep in class at least once per week.
