Sleep Dysfunction in Women Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Gila Hertz, PhD, ABSM; Chief Editor: Selim R Benbadis, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 22, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

The following should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of sleep dysfunction in women:

  • Primary insomnia should be differentiated from depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and circadian rhythm disorder
  • Workup for sleep-maintenance insomnia should rule out PLMD and SDB
  • Sleep disturbance due to vasomotor symptoms should be differentiated from hormonal abnormalities
  • Abnormal behavior during sleep should be differentiated from nocturnal seizure disorder and REM sleep behavior disorder
  • The workup of excessive daytime sleepiness should include narcolepsy, SDB, and atypical depression
  • Parasomnias

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Gila Hertz, PhD, ABSM  Director, Center for Insomnia and Sleep Disorders, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Gila Hertz, PhD, ABSM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Sleep Medicine and American Psychological Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Mary E Cataletto, MD  Director of Children's Sleep Services, Winthrop Sleep Disorders Center; Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Mary E Cataletto, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Chest Physicians

Disclosure: Shering Plough Pharmaceuticals Honoraria Consulting

Chief Editor

Selim R Benbadis, MD  Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: UCB Pharma Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Lundbeck Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Cyberonics Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Sleepmed/DigiTrace Honoraria Speaking, consulting

Additional Contributors

Norberto Alvarez, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital; Medical Director, Wrentham Developmental Center

Norberto Alvarez, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, and Child Neurology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Carmel Armon, MD, MSc, MHS Professor of Neurology, Tufts University School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Neurology, Baystate Medical Center

Carmel Armon, MD, MSc, MHS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American College of Physicians, American Epilepsy Society, American Medical Association, American Neurological Association, American Stroke Association, Massachusetts Medical Society, Movement Disorders Society, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Avanir Pharmaceuticals Consulting fee Consulting

Gabriele M Barthlen, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Cornell University; Director of Sleep-Wake Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, New York Presbyterian Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

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