Review article

Sleep Disorders and their Treatment

Dražen Begić

Abstract

Sleep is the physiological, temporary, periodical and rhythmic disruption of wakefulness. Although the role of sleep is not yet completely understood, we do know it is important for the recovery of the body and body's metabolism. Sleep disorders curently represent a major problem due to their increasing incidence, lack of recognition and inadequate treatment. Sleep disorders are classified as disturbances to the urge to sleep and are divided into quantitative and qualitative types. The most significant quantitative sleep disorders are insomnia and excessive drowsiness, while qualitative sleep disorders include sleepwalking, night time urination, nightmares, night fears, grinding teeth during sleep, sleep paralysis, talking during sleep, head nodding during sleep, as well as chronic paroxysmal headaches, swallowing syndrome, gastric reflux and cardiac symptoms associated with sleep. For the most part, sleep disorders are a symptom of another underlying disease, rather than a separate and unique entity. The treatment of sleep disorders is complex and includes practicing good sleep hygiene, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutic procedures. Sleep hygiene is a collection of measures and procedures that enable greater ease of falling asleep and sustaining sleep. This includes recommendations concerning eating habits, physical activity, room temperature and humidity, other characteristics of the sleeping area (including bedding) and many other features.The first psycho-pharmaceuticals to be used are typically hypnotics of benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine type. These should be given over a limited time or intermittently. In addition to these drugs, melatonin preparations, sedative antipsychotics and antidepressants may also be used. A common mistake in treating sleep disorders is that medications are given too quickly, for too long or with an unnecessary increase in dosage. If the sleep disorder represents a symptom, adequate therapy should be applied to the treatment of the underlying (psychiatric and/or physical) disease. Psychotherapeutic methods that have been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of sleep disorders are cognitive-behavioural techniques.

Keywords

sleep disorders; treatment; sleep hygiene; hypnotics

Hrčak ID:

189144

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/189144

Publication date:

8.11.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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