Clinicians' Guide to Sleep Medicine (Clinicians' Guides)

Rating:
Summary: An essential guide
Review: Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in our community but are under-recognised and under-treated by the majority of health care providers despite the huge explosion of knowledge over the last 20 years. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that most doctors receive little or no education in sleep medicine and in most countries, it is not yet a requirement to complete any amount of training time in this area.
A number of texts have been published in recent years in the field of sleep, but few are as up-to-date and accessible as the current publication by Douglas. In approaching this vast and still burgeoning area, he has logically and systematically categorised the various disorders of sleep, starting with sleep apnoea, and moving through narcolepsy, parasomnias, insomnia, phase shift disorders and diseases in which sleep may play an important role, e.g. COPD and asthma.
Throughout, Douglas has given a brief historical summary, followed by a description of the known mechanisms/aetiologies of each particular disorder. His description of the physiology and pathophysiology of the upper airways in relation to sleep apnoea is unparalleled - well structured and easy to follow. The references are current or relate to seminal work in the area under discussion, which is an additional bonus to those stimulated to look further afield. Basic facts are well presented, the book is replete with diagrams, tables and lists of differential diagnoses or management strategies which all serve to strengthen the messages in the text.
The text itself is clear and engaging; the style straightforward and factual.
This book serves as both an introduction to sleep medicine for the student, clinician or practising physician and as a summary for those already engaged in the field. As textbooks and reference books go, this one is to be highly recommended and should be a staple addition to the medical bookshelf.