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SLEEP DISORDERS
Antony Ayieko Ong’any
BScN, MSc (Nairobi), Cert. Addict. (UK)
Clinical Psychologist/Lecturer
University of Nairobi
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History of Sleep Medicine
1809 -Luigi Rolando noted hypersomnolence in fowl
after "removing the front parts of the brain"
1875 -R. Caton discovers EEG waves in dogs
1890 -Santiago Ramon y Cajal discovered the neuron
1928 -Hans Berger discovers EEG waves in humans
1929 -Constantin von Economo describes two post-viral
sleep syndromes (excessive sleepiness and insomnia)
1933 -Edgar Adrian studied the EEG response to stimuli
in the awake and sleep states in animals
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Regulation of Wakefulness and Sleep
There are two major regulatory systems
proposed for sleep and wakefulness called
the
circadian and
homeostatic systems.
They interact and influence each other.
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PHYSIOLOGY OF SLEEP
Circadian
circadian rhythmicity arises from within the organism
the mammalian "clock" is located within the
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the anterior
hypothalamus
this rhythm is influenced through environmental cues
called "zeitgebers"
Homeostatic
sleepiness increases in proportion to prior awake
time; alertness increases in proportion to prior sleep
time
there is a "pressure" to keep awake and sleep time
balanced
there is a need for recovery sleep after sleep
deprivation despite the lack of a circadian influence
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PHYSIOLOGY OF SLEEP
There are 3 states of consciousness:
Wakefulness
Non-REM sleep: Stages 1-4
REM sleep
Wakefulness
Active (alert; eyes open)
EEG -"active"/"desynchronized" (sinusoidal;
10-30 µvolts; 16-25 Hz) REM abundant
Relaxed (eyes closed)
EEG-alpha activity (20-40 µvolts; 8-12 Hz),
REM is scarce
Submental EMG may be moderate/high in
both
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PHYSIOLOGY OF SLEEP
Non-REM
Stage 1
A transitional stage into sleep
characterized by theta waves
mixed frequency 3-7 Hz (cycles/sec)
diminution of alpha wave activity
slow rolling eye movements
1-7 minutes
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PHYSIOLOGY OF SLEEP
Stage II
The most abundant stage (50% in young
adults).
EEG records sleep spindles (12-14 Hz
activity lasting at least 0.5 sec) and K-
complexes
lasts about 30-60 minutes
no eye movements
short mundane fragmented thoughts
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PHYSIOLOGY OF SLEEP
Stages III & IV (slow wave sleep)
slow wave/deep sleep
Highest auditory arousal threshold to
awaken from stages III and IV.
characterized by Delta waves
high amplitude (>75 µv)
low frequency (0.5-2 Hz)
20-50% stage III
>50% stage IV
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PHYSIOLOGY OF SLEEP
REM -Rapid Eye Movements
First REM sleep about 60 to 90 min after sleep
onset
low amplitude desynchronized and saw tooth
waves on EEG
First REM cycle usually lasts only few minutes
followed by NREM (stage II, III and IV). Later
REM cycles progressively increase up to one
hour through the night.
Most dreams occur while awakening from
REM sleep
Dreams are emotionally charged, complex and
bizarre
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PHYSIOLOGY OF SLEEP
In REM the ascending reticular activating system
(ARAS) activity is virtually completely gone, but
high cholinergic activity from the basal forebrain
causes thalamic neurons to remain in tonic
mode. Thus,
increased cerebral blood flow
Atonia -marked reduction or absence of muscle
tone in weight-bearing muscles
increased brain T°
increased O2 consumption
penile/clitoral tumesence
autonomic dysregulation (T°/HR/RR/BP)
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Non-REM and REM Sleep
Each sleep cycle lasts approximately 90 to 110
minutes
There are usually 4 to 6 sleep cycles in a nights sleep
The first 2 cycles are dominated by NREM stage III
and IV sleep
Sleep Deprivation /Humans 150-200 hrs:
brief psychotic episodes but does not result in
permanent psychological effects
irritability
stimuli misperception
decreased waking alpha activity
disorientation
Lack of attentiveness
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Neurologic consequences:
Seizures
Tremors
Horizontal nystagmus
Older patients
delta sleep is less pronounced
Daytime sleepiness increases
Sleep is shorter, shallower (less slow-wave
sleep) and more fragmented.
Average adult sleep is 7 to 8 hours
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Age Related Differences
Total Sleep Time
greatest in infancy
progressively declines with age
waking time after sleep onset increases with
age
Slow Wave Sleep
highest in infancy, declines across the
lifetime.
REM
highest in infancy, declines across the lifetime.
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Summary
3 states of consciousness are wakefulness, REM
and NREM sleep
wakefulness and sleep are regulated by both
circadian and homeostatic influences
the areas in the brain that control awake and
sleep states are located in the hypothalamus ,
basal forebrain, and pontine brainstem
sleep consists of:
an active dreaming state called REM and
an inactive slow wave state called non-REM
there are many age related differences in sleep
patterns
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Sleep Disorders
Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep /
Non-restorative sleep
Excessive sleep / Irresistible attacks of
refreshing sleep
Awakening from major sleep e.g. from
frightening dreams, Talking/walking
Psychological+++
Organic--
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Parasomnias
Nightmare Disorder,
Sleep Terror Disorder,
Sleepwalking Disorder, and
Parasomnia Not Otherwise Specified
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SLEEP DISORDERS
The sleep disorders are organized into four
Primary Sleep Disorders: presumed to arise from endogenous abnormalities in
sleep-wake generating or timing mechanisms, often complicated by conditioning factors.
Subdivided into
Dyssomnias: Characterized by abnormalities in the amount, quality, or timing of sleep
Parasomnias:Characterized by abnormal behavioral or physiological events occurring
in association with sleep, specific sleep stages, or sleep-wake transitions).
Sleep Disorder Related to Another Mental Disorder: Involves a prominent
complaint of sleep disturbance that results from a diagnosable mental disorder often a
Mood Disorder or Anxiety Disorder but that is sufficiently severe to warrant independent
clinical attention. Presumably, the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the
mental disorder also affect sleep-wake regulation.
Sleep Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition:involves a prominent
complaint of sleep disturbance that results from the direct physiological effects of a
general medical condition on the sleep-wake system.
Substance-Induced Sleep Disorderinvolves prominent complaints of sleep
disturbance that result from the concurrent use, or recent discontinuation of use, of a
substance (including medications).
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Primary Insomnia
Diagnostic criteria for Primary Insomnia
A. The predominant complaint is difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or
nonrestorative sleep, for at least 1 month.
B. The sleep disturbance (or associated daytime fatigue) causes clinically
significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important
areas of functioning.
C. The sleep disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of
Narcolepsy, Breathing-Related Sleep Disorder, Circadian Rhythm Sleep
Disorder, or a Parasomnia.
D. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of another
mental disorder (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety
Disorder, a delirium).
E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a
substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical
condition.
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Primary Hypersomnia
A. The predominant complaint is excessive sleepiness for at least
1 month (or less if recurrent) as evidenced by either
prolonged sleep episodes or daytime sleep episodes that
occur almost daily.
B. The excessive sleepiness causes clinically significant
distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other
important areas of functioning.
C. The excessive sleepiness is not better accounted for by
insomnia and does not occur exclusively during the course of
another Sleep Disorder (e.g., Narcolepsy, Breathing-Related
Sleep Disorder, Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder, or a
Parasomnia) and cannot be accounted for by an inadequate
amount of sleep.
D. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the
course of another mental disorder.
E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological
effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or
a general medical condition.
Recurrent: if there are periods of excessive sleepiness that
last at least 3 days occurring several times a year for at least
2 years
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Narcolepsy
Diagnostic criteria for 347 Narcolepsy
A. Irresistible attacks of refreshing sleep that occur daily over at least 3
months.
B. The presence of one or both of the following:
(1) cataplexy (i.e., brief episodes of sudden bilateral loss of muscle tone,
most often in association with intense emotion)
(2) recurrent intrusions of elements of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
into the transition between sleep and wakefulness, as manifested by either
hypnopompic or hypnagogic hallucinations or sleep paralysis at the
beginning or end of sleep episodes
C. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a
substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another general medical
condition
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Breathing-Related Sleep Disorder
Diagnostic criteria for 780.59 Breathing-Related Sleep Disorder
A. Sleep disruption, leading to excessive sleepiness or insomnia, that
is judged to be due to a sleep-related breathing condition (e.g.,
obstructive or central sleep apnea syndrome or central alveolar
hypoventilation syndrome).
B. The disturbance is not better accounted for by another mental
disorder and is not due to the direct physiological effects of a
substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another general
medical condition (other than a breathing-related disorder).
Coding note: Also code sleep-related breathing disorder on Axis III.
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Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder
A. A persistent or recurrent pattern of sleep disruption leading to excessive sleepiness or
insomnia that is due to a mismatch between the sleep-wake schedule required by a
person's environment and his or her circadian sleep-wake pattern.
B. The sleep disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
C. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of another Sleep
Disorder or other mental disorder.
D. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a
drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.
Specify type:
Delayed Sleep Phase Type: a persistent pattern of late sleep onset and late
awakening times, with an inability to fall asleep and awaken at a desired earlier time
Jet Lag Type: sleepiness and alertness that occur at an inappropriate time of day
relative to local time, occurring after repeated travel across more than one time zone
Shift Work Type: insomnia during the major sleep period or excessive sleepiness
during the major awake period associated with night shift work or frequently
changing shift work
Unspecified Type
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Parasomnias
Disorders characterized by abnormal behavioral
or physiological events occurring in association
with sleep, specific sleep stages, or sleep-wake
transitions.
Parasomnias do not involve abnormalities of the
mechanisms generating sleep-wake states, nor
of the timing of sleep and wakefulness.
Parasomnias represent the activation of
physiological systems at inappropriate times
during the sleep-wake cycle.
In particular, involve autonomic nervous system,
motor system, or cognitive processes during
sleep or sleep-wake transitions.
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Epidemiology
One of the most common
Occur with other mental / physical
disorders
Over 20%of adults
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MANAGEMENT -EDUCATION
1.Establish a regular waking time
(+weekends)
2.Establish proper sleep environment –
comfort(physically, psych., bed, env); noise(!traffic
etc –earplugs, close room); Light(darken room)
3.Allow a wind-down time prior to sleep –
stop everything else at least 30 min b4 bed / do a
nonstresful e.g. music, etc
4.Use your bed only for sleep (+…Sex) –
not eating, working, TV, reading, or discussion of
problems!!!
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MANAGEMENT -EDUCATION
5.Cope with worry & anxiety
•Set aside time for problem solving during
the day
•Do not stay in bed when you are not asleep
6.Avoid napping during the day
7.Avoid drugs –caffeine, Nicotine, Khatt,
Alcohol, Sleeping pills
8.Take a snack –warm milk, banana