THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SLEEP AND SLEEP DISORDERS (FACTS ON FILE LIBRARY OF HEALTH AND LIVING)

Includes over 800 entries describing all aspects of sleep and sleep disorders, as well as essays on the history of sleep and sleep research, plus a list of sleep research laboratories and sources of further information.

This encyclopedia defines more than 800 terms related to sleep and sleep disorders. Scientific, medical, and commonly recognized terms (Bedtime, Naps, Snoring) are included. Entries range in length from a sentence to several pages and cover a broad spectrum, from best ways to handle bedtime issues with children to how specific diseases impact sleep. There are short entries for significant personalities in the field and entries on the development of sleep disorder medicine, research, and treatment.

Introductory essays on the history of sleep and humans and the relationship of psychology to sleep and associated disorders provide a good background for anyone interested in the subject. Cross-references and the use of small caps to indicate a separate entry make the volume easy to use. The list of associations and organizations is international in scope, and there is an extensive state-by-state directory of American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) sleep centers and laboratories. Complete contact information, including contact names and Web addresses, is provided. Other appendixes cover classification of sleep disorders.

This is the second edition of a work first published in 1990. It has been updated and revised to "reflect the current science and understanding of sleep disorders." There is new information on the advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of sleep and wakefulness as well as new diagnostic tools and treatment procedures. Revised articles reflect current information in the areas of sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy. Resource lists and the bibliography have been updated, although only seven titles in the bibliography were published after 1990.

There is enough important new information to warrant considering this edition. The encyclopedia will be useful to upper-level students, especially those in health programs. Public, academic, and medical libraries will certainly want to include it in their collections.

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