Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Obstructive Sleep APNEA: A Review

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may result in neuropsychiatric complications. Psychiatrists need to be alert to the possibility that patients who present to them with cognitive and/or affective disorders, who also have sleep related complaints such as snoring and significant daytime hypersomnolence, may have OSA. Clinical suspicion needs to be reinforced by obtaining a history from the bed partner. A polysomnogram will establish the diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is made, several treatment options are available. Treatment of sleep apnea usually leads to a resolution, or at least improved control, of the complicating neuropsychiatric disorder. Physicians must be aware that sedating neuroleptic or antipsychotic agents may worsen sleep apnea and, thereby, aggravate the neuropsychiatric disturbance.