In the Centre for Sleep disorders and Epilepsy all necessary tests for the diagnosis and management of all sleep disorders and loss of consciousnesses or epileptic seizures are performed.
There is increasing scientific evidence that shows that sleep disorders and generally conditions that are associated with sleep deprivation or poor quality of sleep (e.g. sleep apnoea, insomnia) are also associated with cardiovascular events, mood disturbance, sexual dysfunction, poor quality of life and decreased life expectancy. In the Centre for Sleep disorders and Epilepsy these conditions are managed using the latest diagnostic means by experienced medical and ancillary staff. More specifically, the following can be performed: overnight oximetry and video-assisted polysomnography (complete sleep study) in order to investigate any sleep disorder (breathing disorders e.g. snoring or lack of breath / sleep apnoea, difficulty in starting and maintaining sleep / insomnia, daytime somnolence and fatigue, pathological sleep behaviour such as violent behaviour, sleep-walking, sleep-talking, convulsions, etc).
Due to the complexity of these disorders, the Centre provides the option of a video-recorded and extensively edited (32 brain-recording electrodes) sleep study, as well as the possibility to assess cases of pathological daytime somnolence, fatigue, concentration disturbance, attention and wakefulness deficits, by performing specialised tests (MSLT– multiple sleep latency test, MWT – maintenance of wakefulness test, as well as wakefulness tests that focus on attention and concentration – SART, PVT). Finally, the Centre can also carry out actigraphy, which is the most appropriate method to study insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders (working in shifts, etc).
The Centre can perform 24h or multi-day video-assisted polysomnography so as to investigate episodes of loss of consciousness, convulsions, paroxysmal or epileptic episodes, all of which require a more detailed test than simple EEG.