This third edition of Sleep Medicine is by far the best in regard to editorial oversight, writing, and presentation. The attempt to bring together the ideas and the facts underlying the recognition and management of sleep disorders was successful. Principles and Practice of Sleep Disorders in Children. Certain sections, such as those on sleep-disordered breathing, narcolepsy, and insomnia, have improved incrementally with each edition. However, other sections, such as those on chronobiology and disorders of circadian rhythm and on cardiovascular disease, are far better now than in previous editions in regard to scope, basic science, and relevance to patient care.
Clinical epidemiology is a relatively new concept for sleep medicine.
A strategy for recognizing the high prevalence of sleep disorders and achieving the goal of better sleep might result in improved outcomes for both patients and doctors. This is, first of all, a textbook that is essential for trainees in sleep medicine and a standard reference for centers that see patients with sleep disorders. Yet the presentation and information will also be useful to those studying pulmonary medicine and neurology, in which knowledge of sleep disorders is a required component of training programs approved by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education. The book could be a useful consultative tool for psychiatry, internal-medicine, and psychology training programs, as sleep problems and disorders are commonly encountered in the treatment of patients. For neuroscience programs, it could provide students and faculty with a concise review of the clinical problems and disorders relevant to basic-science research in sleep and circadian biology.