Recent Developments in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Disorders
Robert L. Williams M.D.1 and
Ismet Karacan M.D.,(Med.)D.Sc.2
1 The Department of Psychiatry at , The Sleep Disorders and Research Center Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030
2 The Sleep Disorders and Research Center at Baylor, The Veterans Administration Medical Center in Houston
The publication of a new nosology of sleep and arousal disorders in 1979 established the need for differential diagnosis of sleep disorders based on polysomnographic evaluations as well as medical history and physical examination. This review of recent developments in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders covers such topics as prevalence, findings related to sleeping pills and insomnia, effects of depression on sleep, and managing the elderly patient with disturbed sleep. The authors caution against misuse of hypnotic drug therapy for treatment of insomnia and encourage physicians to inquire about sleep patterns even when a patient is presenting a seemingly unrelated problem.
