Overview
A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and management of sleep-related clinical conditions, including circadian rhythm disorders. This subspecialty includes the clinical assessment, polysomnographic evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders including insomnias, disorders of excessive sleepiness (e.g. narcolepsy), sleep related breathing disorders (such as obstructive sleep apnea), parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, sleep related movement disorders and other conditions pertaining to the sleep-wake cycle.
Specialists in sleep medicine are expected to:
1. participate in an interdisciplinary care of patients of all ages that incorporates aspects of psychiatry, neurology, internal medicine, epidemiology, surgery, pediatrics and basic science;
2. acquire detailed knowledge of the sleep and respiratory control centers, physiology, and neurobiology underlying sleep and wakefulness;
3. diagnose and manage sleep disorder patients in outpatient and inpatient settings.