Sleep Disorders

Question 1

What are sleep-wake disorders?

Answer 1

Diagnostic category representing persistent or recurrent sleep-related problems that cause significant personal distress or impaired functioning

Question 2

What are polysomnographic recordings?

Answer 2

Simultaneous measurement of multiple physiological responses during sleep or attempted sleep

Question 3

What is insomnia disorder?

Answer 3

Difficulties falling asleep, remaining asleep, or achieving restorative sleep

Question 4

What is the prevalence of insomnia?

Answer 4

6-10% of the population

Most common sleep disturbance

Question 5

What are the risk factors for insomnia?

Answer 5

High levels of life stress, shift work, heavy drinking or cannabis use, obesity, being divorced separated or widowed, being female, and lower levels of education and income
High comorbidity with depression and anxiety

Question 6

What are the effects of insomnia?

Answer 6

Sleep-deprived brain is less able to concentrate, pay attention, respond quickly, solve problems, and remember recently acquired information
Linked to reduced immune system functioning

Question 7

What is hypersomnolence disorder?

Answer 7

Persistent sleep patter of excessive sleepiness during the day
May sleep for more than 9 hours but still feel tired
Leads to difficulties in daily functioning

Question 8

What is narcolepsy?

Answer 8

Characterized by sudden, irresistible episodes of sleep attacks
Remain asleep for on average 15 minutes
Immediate transition into REM sleep from wakefulness

Question 9

What is cataplexy?

Answer 9

Brief, sudden loss of muscular control, lasting from a few seconds to as long as two minutes following a strong emotional response

Question 10

What are breathing-related disorders?

Answer 10

Sleep is repeatedly disrupted due to difficulties breathing normally

Question 11

What are the effects of breathing-related disorders?

Answer 11

Excessive daytime sleepiness
Impaired intellectual and memory functioning, depression, accidents at work and on the road, increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, or sudden death

Question 12

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Answer 12

Characterized by repeating episodes of complete or partial obstruction of breathing during sleep

Question 13

What are circadian rhythm sleep disorders?

Answer 13

Characterized by disruption of sleep caused by a mismatch in sleep schedules between the body’s internal sleep-wake cycle and the demands of the environment

Question 14

What are parasomnias?

Answer 14

Category of sleep-wake disorders involving the occurrence of abnormal behaviours or physiological events during sleep or at the transition between wakefulness and sleep

Question 15

What is nightmare disorder?

Answer 15

Characterized by recurrent awakenings from sleep because of frightening nightmares
More frequent when the individual is under stress, associated with trauma, occurs during REM sleep

Question 16

What are non-rapid eye movement sleep arousal disorders?

Answer 16

Characterized by recurrent episodes of incomplete arousals during sleep that are accompanies by sleep terrors or sleep walking

Question 17

What are sleep terrors?

Answer 17

Scream or thrash about during sleep

Question 18

What is sleepwalking?

Answer 18

Characterized by episodes in which the sleeper arises from bed and walks about while remaining fully asleep
Tends to occur during the deeper stages of sleep

Question 19

What are anxiolytics?

Answer 19

Sedatives and anaesthetics that induce partial or complete unconsciousness

Question 20

What are benzodiazepines and antidepressants used to treat in relation to sleep disorders?

Answer 20

Sleep terrors and sleepwalking

Question 21

What is narcolepsy treated with?

Answer 21

Psychostimulants

Question 22

What is sleep apnea treated with?

Answer 22

Positive airway masks

Question 23

What are CBT approaches to treating sleep disorders?

Answer 23

Lowering states of physiological arousal 
Modifying sleep habits 
Changing dysfunctional thoughts
Stimulus control 
Relaxation training 
Anxiety management

Question 24

What are some sleep strategies?

Answer 24

Only retire to bed when you feel tired
Limit bed activities to sleeping 
Get out of bed if you can't fall asleep after 20 minutes
Establish a regular routine 
Avoids naps during the day 
Avoid ruminating in bed 
Relax before sleeping 
Establish a regular exercise schedule 
Avoid caffeinated beverages 
Practice rational restructuring for self-defeating thoughts