Accredited Master Class: Finding the Mimics in Mental Health: Uncovering the Root Cause of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a symptom of many sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), disproportionately affects individuals with mental illness, increasing their risk of morbidity and mortality. EDS is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization, motor vehicle accidents, and cardiovascular disease and imposes significant burdens on individuals’ daytime functioning and overall well-being, commonly compromising cognitive functioning and impairing work and school productivity. This session will explore the bidirectional relationship between sleep and psychiatric disorders and examine strategies to identify EDS and determine its root cause(s). Expert faculty will also explore the challenges surrounding effective treatment, which can have clinical repercussions for patients with co-morbid psychiatric disorders. Attendees will gain a greater understanding of appropriate treatment for individuals with co-occurring OSA and mental illness, positioning themselves to optimally manage OSA-associated EDS in these patients.

Supported by an independent educational grant from Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.