The sleep history

Paul Reading, Sebastiaan Overeem

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

It is a commonly held misperception that practitioners of sleep medicine are highly dependent on sophisticated investigative techniques to diagnose and treat sleep‐disordered patients. The inability to focus or maintain concentration is the most disabling aspect of conditions causing excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), described as 'brain fog' or even masquerading as dementia. The commonest causes of mild and severe EDS are probably insufficient sleep and poor quality overnight sleep, respectively. Sleep onset or sleep maintainance insomnia can reflect an idiopathic or primary phenomenon but is more often secondary to a variety of disorders, including other primary sleep disorders. In patients with underlying neuropathies, radiculopathies or demyelinating disease, restless legs syndrome (RLS) may be secondary to the primary diagnosis and should not be overlooked. The nocturnal disturbances are usually of more concern to the bed partner who may incur injuries from violent dream enactment.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSleep Disorders in Neurology
Subtitle of host publicationA Practical Approach
EditorsS. Overeem, P. Reading
Place of PublicationHoboken
PublisherWiley-Blackwell
Chapter1
Pages3-11
Number of pages9
Edition2nd
ISBN (Electronic)9781118777251
ISBN (Print)9781118777268
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

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