Measuring Sleep Disorders

Question 1

How is actigraphy done?
What is it used for?
What is it indicated for?

Answer 1

Motion detector

Reinforces/compliments sleep diary
Utility of objective quantification of sleep over time, objective assessment of sleep pattern
Can be useful for assessing larger numbers of people for sleep quality?

Assessing child sleep pattern, cognitively impaired
Confirming sleep quantity prior to an MSLT
Not reliable in insomnia - Lie in bed awake

Question 2

What are the uses of a diary?

Answer 2

Quantifying sleep
Assessing pattern of sleep
Assessing factors affecting sleep timing (more detailed diaries)

Question 3

How are polysomnographies done?
How are the sleep stages scored?
Where are spindles seen?

Answer 3

Multiple electrodes, sleeping in bed in the clinic

Sleep stages (W,1,2,Delta,REM) - 3 and 4 are combined to delta for scoring

Spindles can be seen during stage 2

Question 4

What are the indications of polysomnography?

Answer 4

Sleep apnea
Periodic limb movement disorder
Parasomnias
Research
**Not for insomnia **

Question 5

What is MSLT?
What is the procedure?
What is the outcomes?

Answer 5

Objective measure of sleepiness

Procedures
20 minute opportunities to nap every 2 hours for 5 sessions in a row
Unit of measure is minutes from lights out to sleep onset

Outcomes
“Normal” is > 10 minutes
Pathologic sleepy is < 8 minutes
REM sleep during more than one of these naps is abnormal