Sleep Health and Sleep Disorders Across the Lifespan E293

Course Summary

Practice Level: Intermediate

Sleep is a basic human need and a critical component of both physical and mental health; however, insomnia is a public health problem. Mental health and sleep disorder comorbidities are common, often with a bidirectional relationship that exacerbates both conditions. In many cases, sleep concerns can be addressed by improving sleep hygiene. However, other problems that interfere with functioning may require additional assessment and treatment.

Social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and counselors encounter patients and clients with acute and chronic sleep disturbances, but receive minimal formal training to confidently identify, diagnose, and address client concerns and issues with sleep health. Without adequate sleep competencies in the mental health field, therapist treatment recommendations are less likely to align with evidence-based standards, potentially resulting in a delay (or absence) of effective treatment for sleep concerns.

This comprehensive learning material provides mental health professionals with the information necessary to manage sleep disorders that commonly co-occur with mental health conditions, including guidance on identification, diagnosis, and treatment of sleep concerns. This learning material describes normal human sleep, sleep disorders across the lifespan, and the interaction of sleep disorders and mental health. Case examples illustrate key concepts throughout.

Course Format

This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test. When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe public health concerns about sleep disturbances including prevalence and health disparities. 
2. Explain normal sleep across the lifespan including sleep hormones and sleep patterns. 
3. Identify sleep hygiene recommendations and their role in disordered and non-disordered contexts. 
4. Describe diversity considerations related to sleep and signs of sleep deprivation. 
5. Recognize sleep disorders, related terminology, and presentation. 
6. Differentiate interventions and treatments to effectively address sleep disturbances. 

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Global Prevalence and Health Disparities
• Normal Sleep Across the Lifespan
  • Stages of Sleep
  • Circadian Rhythm and the Sleep/Wake Cycle
• Sleep Hormones
• Sleep Patterns Across the Lifespan
• General Sleep Hygiene Recommendations in Non-Disordered Contexts
• Diversity Considerations
• Sleep Deprivation
• Common Sleep Disorders      
  • Childhood-Specific Sleep Disorders
  • Parasomnias
  • Breathing Disorders
  • Insomnia
  • Hypersomnias
  • Circadian Rhythm Disorders
• Sleep-Related Movement Disorders  
  • Restless Leg Syndrome
  • Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
  • Sleep-Related Leg Cramps
  • Bruxism
• Sleep-Related Concerns in Menopause
• Sleep Disorders Secondary to Health Conditions
  • Chronic Pain
  • Obesity
  • Mental Illness
  • Heart Disease and Heart Failure
  • Cognitive Disorders and Neurological Conditions
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Nocturia
  • Inactivity
• Assessment and Diagnosis
• Treatments
  • Medications
  • Surgeries
  • Appliances
  • Behavior Modification and Behavioral Sleep Therapy
  • Lifespan Treatment Considerations
• Summary
• References

Author

Anna Redmond, Psy.D., BCB

Anna Redmond, Psy.D., BCB, is a clinical psychologist with advanced training in health psychology and chronic pain management. She has received extensive training in behavioral health, primary care psychology, and cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia. Dr. Redmond’s clinical work has spanned many settings, including private practice, hospital, VA medical centers, and online education, and in primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings. She has worked as a clinical director of an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program and has also coordinated pain psychology services, functioned as a primary care psychologist, and delivered evidence-based education and therapies.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.

Social workers completing this course receive 4 clinical continuing education credits.

CE4Less.com has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6991. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE4Less.com is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.