While troubled sleep can be transient and merely bothersome, it also may be disabling or lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, and other medical or psychiatric problems. Comprehensive evalutation and effective treatments for sleep disorders are available through the Department of Psychiatry. Our clinical team sees individuals who are concerned about their sleeping patterns. The team advises patients on how to best deal with their symptoms. Sleep disorders can be influenced by psychological and physical factors.
Some people have an underlying depression or anxiety which disturbs their sleep.
Others may associate unpleasant experiences with the sleeping environment. Still, other people may have physical problems which disturb their sleep, such as chronic pain or respitory problems. Medications and substance abuse also can affect the quantity and quality of sleep. There are many different kinds of sleep disorders. The most common type, insomnia, is an inability to fall asleep or remain asleep throughout the night.