Psychiatr. praxi. 2021;22(1):e25-e37 | DOI: 10.36290/psy.2021.013

Diagnosing major sleep disorders

MUDr. Martin Pretl, CSc.

Inspamed, neurologická ambulance a spánková poradna, s.r.o., Institut spánkové medicíny, Praha

The incidence of sleep-wake disorders has been growing rapidly worldwide. Their consequences include both impaired quality of daily life with numerous socioeconomic aspects and significant impairment of health status (related to cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychiatric conditions). The initial and, in some cases, a fully sufficient step in diagnosing sleep-wake disorders is interviewing the patient and taking sleep history while using questionnaires (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, sleep diary, etc.). Polysomnography is the basic examination technique. The diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) involves a simplified form of polysomnography - limited polygraphy - and, in the first-line diagnosis, a screening test as well. An advantage of these methods is their outpatient use. Excessive daytime sleepiness is mainly diagnosed by using the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) and the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT). Insomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea, and some parasomnias are the most prevalent disorders in the population. Recently, there has been an increase in the occurrence of circadian rhythm sleep disorders due to societal changes.

Keywords: medical history, polysomnography, limited polygraphy, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Multiple Sleep Latency Test - MSLT, Maintenance of Wakefulness Test - MWT.

Published: April 15, 2021  Show citation