Psychological Interventions on Sleep Disorders

Recommended Prerequisites

Knowledge related to previous curricular units such as Behavioural Models and Cognitive Models, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapies on Adults (I), and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapis in Children and Adolescents (I), is recommended (but not compulsory).

Teaching Methods

Classes begin with oral lectures, accompanied by slides. Video presentations, internet sites consultation, paper documents, etc, might be useful to illustrate and/or promote debate on specific concepts or assessment methods. For each SD, a clinical case will be presented (e.g. excerpts of clinical histories), and eventually a specialist might be invited for one class session.  

Learning Outcomes

~To distinguish normal sleep patterns across life span.

~To characterize sleep disorders [SD] (e.g., insomnias; parasomnias; disorders of the circadian sleep-wake rhythm), especially those of greater relevance for clinical psychologists.

~To become familiar with the main classification/diagnostic systems, especially DSM-5 and ICSD-3 (international classification of SD).

~To understand the cognitive-behavioural conceptualization for chronic insomnia; to apprehend psychological conceptualizations for other SD.

~To describe the main assessment methods used by sleep expert psychologists.

~To become familiar with “sleep hygiene” rules.

~To understand the behavioural, cognitive and non-pharmacological interventions for specific SD, such as (among others): insomnia (cognitive-behavioural therapy); nightmares and other parasomnias (e.g., image rehearsal therapy); shift work, delayed sleep-phase and remaining disorders of the circadian sleep-wake rhythm (e.g., light therapy). 

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

~Defining sleep and the circadian sleep-wake cycle. Normal patters (e.g., sleep length) across life span.

~Sleep Disorders (SD) and its classification by DSM and ICSD.

~Symptoms, prevalence, aetiology, and development of SD, emphasizing the most relevant ones in clinical psychology.

~Influential psychological models for chronic insomnia. Other psychological conceptualizations for SD. 

~Main assessment methods used by sleep expert psychologists.

~Starting the intervention: sleep education and “sleep hygiene”.

~Behavioural, cognitive and non-pharmacological interventions for specific SD: #insomnia (e.g., CBT); #nightmares, sleepwalking, night terrors and other parasomnias (e.g., image rehearsal therapy); #shift work, delayed sleep-phase and remaining circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders (e.g., chronotherapy; light therapy); # narcolepsy and other hypersomnolence disorders (e.g., naps scheduling); sleep-related #breathing (e.g., CPAP adherence therapy) and #movements disorders.

Head Lecturer(s)

Ana Cardoso Allen Gomes

Assessment Methods

Final assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Continuous assessment
Other: 25.0%
Frequency: 75.0%

Bibliography

AASM (2014).International Classification of Sleep Disorders–Third Edition (ICSD-3). Darien, IL

Clemente, V. (2006).Como tratar os doentes com insónia crónica? O contributo da psicologia clínica. Revista Portuguesa de Clínica Geral,22, 635-44

Hauri, P. (2016).The Sleep Disorders (updated web version). A Publication of the National Sleep Foundation reviewed by its appointed expert panel. Acesso livre: http://sleepdisorders.sleepfoundation.org/

Marques, D., Gomes, A.A., Clemente, V.…(2015).Hyperarousal and failure to inhibit wakefulness in primary insomnia. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 13,219-28

Morin, C. (2011).Psychological and behavioraltreatments for insomnia I: Approaches and efficacy. In M. Kryger, T. Roth & W. Dement (Eds.).Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine(5ed.) (pp. 866-83). Missouri: Elsevier Saunders

Morin, C.M.& Espie, C.A. (Eds.) (2012).The Oxford Handbook of Sleep and Sleep Disorders. IV.Series: Oxford Library of Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press