Sleep and Health

The course provides an introduction to the basic knowledge of the nature of normal sleep patterns and their impact on health-related quality of life. The information about the essential characteristics of sleep architecture, sleep change over the life-span and the major functions of sleep gives the common conceptual framework for the evaluation of sleep needs and consequences of sleep deprivation for the daytime functioning (cognition, behavior, mood). Psychological analysis of dreaming is aiming to reveal the differences between psychoanalytic and cognitive approaches. Classification of sleep disorders is introduced on the base of International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Version 2 (ICSD-2). From the numerous sleep assessment methods the course centers on sleep interview and sleep questionnaires, polysomnography and psychological assessment of the sleep problems. The efficiency of cognitive-behavioral methods and interventions for primary insomnia are demonstrated in recent research.

Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evdokia Khristova