1st Textbook on Sleep Psychiatry

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An informative textbook confirming a newly established field: Sleep Psychiatry

Book Review by Nikos M. Linardakis, M.D.

The fascinating world of sleep has achieved more clinical research inquiries

over the past few decades. However, Sleep Psychiatry has become a newly

established subspecialty in sleep medicine. It affords a need for a much-awaited

textbook on sleep psychiatry. Every physician has been exposed to patients with

a chief complaint of sleep deprivation or a sleep disorder of another kind. This

is the first textbook in the field of sleep psychiatry, and presents a

comprehensive coverage of topics that will undoubtedly introduce and expand on

new discoveries in the near future. This peer-reviewed textbook is a masterful

and detailed presentation of sleep psychiatry.

Dr. Golbin’s editorial presentation of important concepts and the

scientific exploration into the world of sleep psychiatry is an example of a

skilled educator, and a leading research and clinical physician. My favorite

chapters are those that cover the sleep-wake cycles and the effect on daytime

alertness and behavior. The most important of all discoveries about sleep was

the recognition that sleep is not a passive state of rest, but a complicated and

active cyclic process. Of equal importance, normal sleep was recognized as the

foundation for normal alertness, and abnormal sleep as the foundation for

abnormal alertness and psychiatric problems. This probability is evaluated and

confirmed in research papers showing significant advantage to sleep-alertness

relationships.

The new book Sleep Psychiatry, written by an international team of experts and

published in England by & Francis /CRC Group, for the first time,

categorizes and reviews published and original research data. Sleep Psychiatry

presents this information and forms comprehensive concepts of physiological

origin and discusses the basis of psychiatric problems, establishing a new field

of sleep medicine-Sleep Psychiatry.

Twenty-eight chapters of the book, although written for specialists, are clear

and simple, in reader-friendly style, and present multiple facts from

internationally recognized researchers. It is a highly informative and useful

resource. Among other topics, the authors convincingly present, review and

confirm major conclusions:

1. Sleep is a physiological basis for normal daytime mental and emotional

functions.

2. During the early development in infancy, the brain mechanism of sleep

developed first and became a foundation for the development of normal alertness,

attention and productive wakefulness.

3. If sleep mechanisms are deviated in early childhood, it may lead to

attention, alertness and emotional problems later on in life.

4. Sleep is a healing, compensatory and recovery state.

5. Sleep, if abnormal, may trigger sickness and even death.

6. Treatment of sleep pathology may help in the treatment of some medical and

psychiatric disorders.

Sleep Psychiatry was written as a global collaboration, with chapter authors

from several university and research institutions. Among many interesting

concepts, presented in this book are: the “search activity” by Dr. Vadim

Rotenberg from Israel, an evolutionary approach to human sleep development by

Dr. Shepovalnikov from Russia, an adaptive theory of parasomnias and

sleep origin of daytime habits by Dr. Golbin from the USA, and the

dangerous and forensic aspects of sleep by USA-Canadian research teams.

The quality of print in the book also leverages the ability for a clinician,

doctorate candidate or sleep researcher to enjoy the multitude of graphic

presentations and important charts and tables.

The earlier chapters in the book are somewhat broad; however, they introduce

the reader to this new field. At times the text was missing some additional

information that would clarify some voids and unknowns; though, later on in the

book, each area was thoroughly covered and the reader is left with a feeling

that the book was written to increase the appetite to read and learn more-unlike

most textbooks; I was intrigued by every new chapter that brought with it a new

understanding of a pioneering field. The last few decades and millions of

dollars in research funding have produced an overwhelming amount of evidence to

support the significant findings in sleep psychiatry. The book carefully

presents these findings in a comprehensive and peer-reviewed format.

Sleep Psychiatry is a fascinating and monumental work which will definitely

elicit active discussions and further research to prove or disprove these

interesting and fresh approaches for the discovery and understanding of the

biologic, physiologic, and psychiatric benefits for millions of patients with

sleep and psychiatric problems.

I look forward to your review and an increase in the establishment of the

field of Sleep Psychiatry. Sleep Psychiatry is sure to become “required reading”

for all professionals in sleep medicine and in psychiatry. Nikos Linardakis,

M.D. is a physician executive for Tharos Laboratories, Inc. in Boston,

Massachusetts. He is the author of several medical books, and was

Editor-in-Chief at McGraw-Hill Companies Health Sciences Division, New York.

You can e-mail your comments to Dr. Nikos Linardakis at Nikos@...

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Sleep Psychiatry Golbin, M.D., Ph.D., et. al, First Edition,

& Francis Publishing/CRC Group, London, England, 2004 ISBN Number: 1 - 842 14

-145 -

About Dr. Nikos…

o CEO of Tharos Laboratories, Inc. - a nutritional supplement company o

Published author of over a dozen books, including The World of Children’s Sleep

o Former Editor-in-Chief of McGraw-Hill Companies, Health Sciences Division in

New York. o Former Director of Clinical Research for The Natural Standard in

Cambridge, MA o Served as the author of clinical review monographs covering

natural extracts o Scientific Advisory Board Member of the Cranberry Institute o

Research Associate at the Sleep & Behavioral Institute in Chicago, IL o Author

of Ten Natural Ways to Healthy Sleep o An active lecturer o Monthly columnist

for Sleep and Health News Journal

Dr. Nikos has extensive experience in the development and manufacturing of

nutraceutical products, and has worked for both public as well as privately held

companies in this market sector. He has a vast knowledge in FDA compliance,

protocol design, and other physician-liaison functions.

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