Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Mental Illness Treatment Should Include Sleep Apnea Screening

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

An article in the Palm Beach Post today stated that 11% of Americans older than 12 take an antidepressant. These drugs are prescribed for reasons other than mental health issues but that is still an astounding number. The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can sometimes mimic those of mental illness - lethargy, irritability, forgetfulness. When those suffering from depression or another form of mental illness also have obstructive sleep apnea it can make the mental illness worse and possibly contribute to manic episodes. Unfortunately, screening for sleep disorders in psychiatric patients is rarely done.

A new study from the University of Utah suggests that using a simple questionnaire to screen patients may be helpful. "Sleep problems are so integral to psychiatric problems, we wanted to make sure that along with psychiatric disorders we were treating obstructive sleep apnea too," said Dr. Vanita Jain. Because many medications used in treating psychiatric conditions are also respiratory depressants it is especially important for these patients to be screened.

The questions asked included: Do you snore loudly? Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day? Has anyone observed you stop breathing during your sleep? Do you have high blood pressure? Are you over 50 years of age? Are you male? Other questions include a large neck circumference and high body mass index (BMI).

If you answer yes to several of these questions you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or another sleep breathing disorder. To schedule your consultation please contact Boca Raton Dental Sleep Medicine today at 561-394-9000. We will discuss testing for a correct diagnosis, treatment options available and medical insurance coverage..

Labels: depression, obstructive sleep apnea