An Introduction to Sleep Disorders is a textbook designed to cater to a wide audience including but not limited to sleep technologists, respiratory therapists, medical students, residents, clinical fellows, sleep medicine providers and educators as well as primary care providers. Sleep disorders are very common and healthcare providers from multiple disciplines will likely encounter patients presenting with sleep complaints as part of their practice.

The textbook provides a broad overview of the complete range of sleep disorders seen in clinical practice. The individual chapters focus on insomnia, sleep-related breathing disorders, central disorders of hypersomnolence, circadian rhythm sleep -wake disorders, parasomnias and movement disorders. In each chapter, there is a discussion about pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disorder, common definitions in use, clinical presentation, methods to appropriately diagnose the condition, common comorbidities and medications that may impact the sleep disorder, how the condition may evolve over time, current evidence-based treatment options and relevant patient education. The final chapter includes a discussion about normal sleep. A list of important reference articles is included at the end of the textbook for those interested in reading more about a particular topic.

There have been many recent changes in the field of Sleep Medicine. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events were recently updated. Accordingly, there has been a change in the terminology and classification of certain sleep disorders and in the scoring of events on sleep studies. There is a trend toward increased home sleep apnea testing followed by prescription of auto-titrating positive airway pressure treatment. New therapies are now available for the treatment of insomnia, restless legs syndrome and sleep-related breathing disorders. Consumer sleep tracking devices and cloud-based technologies for monitoring positive airway pressure compliance are currently being widely used. This textbook reflects the contemporary practice of Sleep Medicine and will help readers become familiar with the latest knowledge in the field.

eBook reviewed and updated April 2021

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
1. Distinguish between the descriptions, clinical presentations and diagnosis of sleep disorders including insomnia, sleep-related breathing disorders, central disorders of hypersomnolence, circadian rhythm sleep -wake disorders, parasomnias and movement disorders.
2. Recognize common comorbidities and medications that may impact sleep disorders.
3. Identify current evidence-based treatment options for sleep disorders.
4. Explain what is meant as the “range of normal sleep”.

Target Audience

The primary target audience of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) are registered Sleep Study Technologists and those interested in improving their knowledge and skills in the field of sleep technology and sleep disorders. Secondary audiences include physicians who are interested in improving their knowledge and skills in the field of sleep medicine.