Children with anxiety or phobias are being treated with sleep and exposure therapy, in world-first research

Queensland researchers hope a world-first study monitoring patients’ sleep could soon improve treatment options for children with anxiety and phobias.

The Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University is investigating the best time of day to conduct exposure therapy sessions to determine if they are more effective in the morning or in the evening, immediately before sleep.

Postdoctoral research fellow Ella Oar said she was exploring whether sleep could be used as a “learning…