A systematic approach to sleep disorders: review and treatment

The authors have reviewed some current concepts of sleep and the effects of common medications on particular sleep patterns. Most of the commonly used hypnotics suppress REM sleep, cause REM rebound with dream unpleasantness on withdrawal, and are not particularly effective. A systematic approach to sleep disorder requires the physician to arrive at the etiology of the disturbance, if at all possible. The uncritical use of hypnotic drugs may paradoxically serve to maintain a sleep disorder.