A large proportion of mental health professionals misunderstand the nature of sleep problems in mental health patients, according to sleep specialist Barry Krakow, MD, who has worked in the field of sleep research and clinical sleep medicine for more than 30 years. Such professionals view sleep issues as a symptom of mental health disorders, rather than as a distinct disorder that needs to be addressed.

Healthcare professionals fail to understand that treating sleep problems can help to alleviate mental health issues.

The sleep medicine community itself also struggles with how to serve the mental health community. Many sleep centers are still discounting or ignoring the significance of upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). According to Krakow, many sleep doctors are uncomfortable treating patients with mental health conditions, such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety, and will refer them to therapists or psychiatrists rather than addressing their sleep problems. This lack of understanding and training in the connection between sleep disorders and mental health leads to patients not receiving proper treatment and being left with the impression that sleep medicine cannot help them. Sleep medicine needs to recognize that insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing are prevalent in this population and that effective treatments, such as advanced PAP machines, are available.

With regard to bureaucracy surrounding treating mental health patients, Krakow advises that sleep centers can implement efficiencies using modern technology, and offer reimbursable services, such as PAP Naps, to assist with the business aspects.

Krakow's new book Life Saving Sleep: New Horizons in Mental Health Treatment explores the link between sleep and mental health, and how the quality of sleep is often overlooked in mental health treatment. Mental health patients with sleep complaints are typically prescribed medication to help them sleep, without addressing the quality of their sleep. Many patients are unable to describe the quality of their sleep beyond the number of hours they sleep each night.

For further information:

https://barrykrakowmd.com/ https://www.lifesavingsleep.com/ https://fastasleep.substack.com/

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