Description

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Millions of people complain of sleep problems, from insomnia to excessive daytime sleepiness, to chronic fatigue and the irritability associated with unsatisfactory sleep. Sleep problems are an important aspect of several psychiatric disorders, notably mood and anxiety disorders. Sleep deprivation has also been identified as a factor in numerous other medical conditions, including diabetes and impaired immune function. No matter what its specific medical source, sleep deprivation possesses high societal costs-impaired driving, work-related accidents and chronically poor work performance. In terms of specific sleep disorders, sleep apnea is becoming increasingly prevalent with the advent of chronic obesity. Despite the importance of sleep deprivation, education in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders is often neglected in undergraduate and post-graduate medical training. As a result, many physicians are uncomfortable assessing or treating even common sleep problems.

About the Author

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Ruth Benca, MD, PhD, is Director of Center for Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research and Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wisconsin.