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Sleep+Case+Studies

The document presents five case histories of patients with various sleep disorders. Each case includes primary and secondary information detailing symptoms, behaviors, and concerns, leading to potential diagnoses such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and parasomnia. The patients range in age and background, highlighting the diverse nature of sleep-related issues.

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36 views

Sleep+Case+Studies

The document presents five case histories of patients with various sleep disorders. Each case includes primary and secondary information detailing symptoms, behaviors, and concerns, leading to potential diagnoses such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and parasomnia. The patients range in age and background, highlighting the diverse nature of sleep-related issues.

Uploaded by

27datala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sleep Disorder Case Studies

After reading the Sleep Disorders Reference Manual, please read the case studies and diagnose each
of the patients with a sleep disorder.

Case History 1:

Primary Information: The patient is a female in her mid-20’s. She reports difficulty staying awake while
away in college. In fact, while in high school, her teachers complained of her falling asleep during class.
Her mother also had this problem, although she never sought help from a specialist.

The patient feels excessively sleepy during the day. She also reports that her dreams are very
vivid, especially during naps. At times, she’s not sure if she’s dreaming or if something is actually
happening to her. Additionally, she describes feeling like she is glued to her bed when she first wakes in
the morning. Finally, she mentions that she feels weak when she laughs or is tickled.

Secondary Information: When examined in a sleep laboratory, it was found that this patient fell asleep
relatively quickly and entered into REM sleep within 10 minutes after sleep onset.

Case History 2:

Primary Information: The patient is the CEO of a large corporation. He reports that he suffers from
excessive fatigue and sleepiness during the day. He often has had difficulty concentrating and
performing his routine tasks. He has even dozed off in the early afternoon while sitting at his computer.
His wife reports that he snores although she indicated that his breathing appears normal during sleep.
She has never witnessed any unusual events during the night. He is seeking help because he is
concerned about being sleepy during his afternoon work hours.

Secondary Information: A physical exam of this patient reveals no significant problems. With further
questioning, the patient discloses that he drinks several cups of coffee and has several diet colas in the
afternoon to increase alertness. He also states that he often drinks an alcoholic beverage or two before
bedtime. He sleeps soundly during the first part of the night, but then he awakens and has difficulty
going back to sleep.

Case History 3:

Primary Information: This patient is a female in her early 30’s. Her medical history is unremarkable for
any major problems or diseases. She indicates that she has no sleep problems of which she is aware,
although she did sleepwalk as a child but not beyond age 10. She falls asleep readily, does not believe
she snores, and generally awakens feeling refreshed. She has no bed partner to provide confirmation of
sleep behaviors. She seeks help because of two recent incidents. In the first, she awoke at 3:30 am to
find herself on the roof of her house, apparently having climbed a ladder to get there. She stated that
during the day she had been concerned about a tree branch that was rubbing on her roof but had
forgotten about it that night. When she awoke on the roof, she thought she had just dreamed about
climbing a ladder and inspecting a tree branch. The second incident occurred five weeks later. The
patient reported having a good day and falling asleep readily. She awoke at 4:00 am sitting under a
favorite tree in a nearby park and drinking a glass of wine. Upon awakening in the park, she thought she
had been dreaming about being on a picnic with her boyfriend.
Secondary Information: Patient history indicated no injuries to the head, no seizures, and no fainting.
Her childhood and teen years were normal in all regards. No family members have ever had sleep-
related experiences similar to hers. She is deeply concerned about her safety and the safety of others.
What if she were to “dream” that she was driving a car?

Case History 4:

Primary Information: The patient is a male in his early 30’s. His wife has made him seek help, although
he doesn’t see the need. He reports that he has no trouble falling asleep. However, he has multiple
awakenings during the night and does not know why. He awakes feeling unrefreshed. He experiences
excessive daytime sleepiness. A physical exam is performed. This patient is 6 feet tall and weights 255
pounds. His neck measures 21 inches. Two years ago, he weighed 200 pounds.

Secondary Information: The patient indicates that he does snore and that he awakens with his mouth
feeling very dry. An interview with the patient’s wife reveals that the patient will stop breathing for up
to 30 seconds. This is followed by a loud snort. The patient is also known to snore when lying flat, lying
on his side, or sitting up.

Case History 5:

Primary Information: The patient is an 18-year old male who reportedly has trouble sitting in class. He
complains of feeling tired during the day and of not being able to get to sleep at night. His mother
reports that he does not settle down at night to do his homework. His teachers consider him to be
bored, hyperactive, and disruptive in class.

Secondary Information: The patient complains that he feels like bugs are crawling under his skin on his
arms and legs.

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