Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Comorbid Insomnia: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to examine the process of care in an interdisciplinary sleep clinic for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and comorbid insomnia. A mixed-methods approach was used to examine clinical and patient-centered measures for 34 patients who received positive-airway pressure for OSA or cognitive-behavior therapy for insomnia. The results revealed baseline-to-follow-up improvements on several self-reported sleep parameters and measures of daytime functioning. Qualitative analyses from patient interviews revealed three themes: conceptual distinctions about each sleep disorder, importance of treating both sleep disorders, and preferences with regard to the sequence of treatment. These findings indicate that patients with OSA and comorbid insomnia encounter unique challenges. A dimensional approach to assessment and treatment is proposed for future research.

The more the merrier? Working towards multidisciplinary management of obstructive sleep apnea and comorbid insomnia.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this article was to provide an overview of the diagnostic considerations, clinical features, pathophysiology, and treatment approaches for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and comorbid insomnia. METHOD: We begin with a review of the literature on OSA and comorbid insomnia. We then present a multidisciplinary approach using pulmonary and behavioral sleep medicine treatments. RESULTS: OSA and insomnia co-occur at a high rate and such patients have distinct clinical features. Empirically supported treatments are available for OSA and insomnia independently but there are no standards or guidelines for how to implement these treatments for patients who suffer from both disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary treatment holds promise for patients with comorbid sleep disorders. Further research should be aimed at optimizing treatments and developing standards of practice for this population.

Testing the reliability and validity of DSM-IV-TR and ICSD-2 insomnia diagnoses. Results of a multitrait-multimethod analysis.

CONTEXT: Distinctive diagnostic classification schemes for insomnia diagnoses are available, but the optimal insomnia nosology has yet to be determined. OBJECTIVES: To test the reliability and validity of insomnia diagnoses listed in the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV-TR and the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, second edition (ICSD-2). DESIGN: Multitrait-multimethod correlation design. SETTING: Two collaborating university medical centers, with recruitment from January 2004 to February 2009. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 352 adult volunteers (235 of whom were women) who met research diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Goodness-of-fit ratings of 10 DSM-IV-TR and 37 ICSD-2 insomnia diagnoses for each patient. Ratings were provided by 3 clinician pairs who used distinctive assessment methods to derive diagnostic impressions. Correlations computed within and across clinician pairs were used to test reliability and validity of diagnoses. RESULTS: Findings suggested that the best-supported DSM-IV-TR insomnia categories were insomnia related to another mental disorder, insomnia due to a general medical condition, breathing-related sleep disorder, and circadian rhythm sleep disorder. The category of primary insomnia appeared to have marginal reliability and validity. The best-supported ICSD-2 categories were the insomnias due to a mental disorder and due to a medical condition, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, idiopathic insomnia, and circadian rhythm sleep disorder-delayed sleep phase type. Psychophysiological insomnia and inadequate sleep hygiene received much more variable support across sites, whereas the diagnosis of paradoxical insomnia was poorly supported. CONCLUSIONS: Both the DSM-IV-TR and ICSD-2 provide viable insomnia diagnoses, but findings support selected subtypes from each of the 2 nosologies. Nonetheless, findings regarding the frequently used DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of primary insomnia and its related ICSD-2 subtypes suggest that their poor reliability and validity are perhaps due to significant overlap with comorbid insomnia subtypes. Therefore, alternate diagnostic paradigms should be considered for insomnia classification.