Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #165191

• Slides (pdf) or Handout

Maurice M. Ohayon, MD, DSc, PhD, School of Medicine, Sleep Epidemiology, Stanford University, 3430 W. Bayshore road, Palo Alto, CA 94303, (650) 494-1137, mohayon@stanford.edu

Sleep medicine is a young field. Since the first effort to classify sleep problems 25 years ago, the epidemiology of sleep disorders has progressed considerably. From the assessment of the mere presence of symptoms, the epidemiologic evaluation of sleep disturbances has evolved to more structured criteria. This evolution has had a direct consequence on the evaluation of the prevalence of sleep disturbances and sleep disorders. It also has impacted public awareness about different sleep disorders. However, considerable public health efforts remain. Most of the large epidemiologic studies include only a limited number of questions related to sleep, preventing the possibility of making differential diagnoses or adequately evaluating the risk factors associated with sleep symptoms, syndromes and disorders. Sleep disturbances appear to place the general population at risk for depression and other mental disorders and increase the risk of relapse in those treated for mental disorders, but further exploration of this relationship is needed. There is a clear need for early identification and treatment of sleep disturbances in the general population. It is imperative that epidemiologic studies focus on factors that could help health care practitioners recognize the different sleep disorders.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how differences in definitions and evaluation of sleep disturbances influence the prevalence and risk factors related to sleep disturbances.
• Identify most common mental health consequences associated with sleep disturbances.
• Recognize the impact of untreated sleep disturbances on physical and mental health.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout