Multiple Sleep Latency Test

Multiple Sleep Latency Test
Multiple Sleep Latency Test
Intervention
ICD-9-CM 89.18
OPS-301 code: 1-795
MSLT Scores
Minutes Sleepiness
0–5 Severe
5–10 Troublesome
10–15 Manageable
15–20 Excellent

The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) is a sleep disorder diagnostic tool. It is used to measure the time elapsed from the start of a daytime nap period to the first signs of sleep, called sleep latency. The test is based on the idea that the sleepier people are, the faster they will fall asleep.

The MSLT can be used to test for narcolepsy, to distinguish between physical tiredness and true excessive daytime sleepiness, or to assess whether treatments for breathing disorders are working. Its main purpose is to serve as an objective measure of sleepiness.

The test consists of four or five 20-minute nap opportunities that are scheduled two hours apart. The test is often performed after an overnight sleep study. During the test, data such as the patient's brain waves, EEG, muscle activity, and eye movements are monitored and recorded. The entire test normally takes about 7 hours.

The MSLT is used extensively to test sleepiness in a number of research protocols.

Contents

History

The Multiple Sleep Latency Test was created in 1977 by sleep pioneers William C. Dement and Mary Carskadon.[1][2][3][4] It developed out of repeating a project done in 1970 by Dr. Dement called the 90-minute day.[5] They informally called the 0–5 minute range the twilight zone due to its indication of extreme physical and mental impairment.

Typical procedure

Preparation: On the day of the test the patient is asked not to consume any stimulants, such as tea, coffee, colas, and chocolate.

  • Often a formal sleep study has been performed the night before.
  • Sometimes urine screening is done to make sure no substances exist in the subject's body that might interfere with sleep.
  • The patient may be asked to fill out a pre-test questionnaire.
  • Electrodes are attached to the patient's head to record brain waves.
  • Electrodes are attached by the eyes to record eye movement.
  • Electrodes are attached to the chin to detect muscle tone.
  • Heart beat may also be monitored.
  • The patient is asked to perform simple tasks to test that the equipment is working properly.
  • The patient is asked to nap for 20 minutes, and then is awakened.
  • The nap process is repeated every 2 hours for a total of four or five times.
  • The patient may be asked to fill out a post-test questionnaire.

A clinical neurophysiologist, neurologist or sleep specialist will review the results and inform the patient or the patient's primary care physician of the interpretation of the test result in the context of the clinical problem.

References

  1. ^ Carskadon, M.A.; Dement, W.C. Sleep tendency: an objective measure of sleep loss. Sleep Research 6: 200, 1977.
  2. ^ Richardson, G.S.; Carskadon, M.A.; Flagg, W.; Van den Hoed, J.; Dement, W.C.; Mitler, M.M. Excessive daytime sleepiness in man: multiple sleep latency measurement in narcoleptic and control subjects. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1978 Nov;45(5):621–627.
  3. ^ Carskadon, M.A.; Dement, W.C.; Mitler, M.M.; Roth, T.; Westbrook, P.R.; Keenan, S. Guidelines for the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): a standard measure of sleepiness. Sleep 1986; 9:519–524
  4. ^ Thorpy, M.J.; Westbrook, P.; Ferber, R.; Fredrickson, P.; Mahowald, M.; Perez-Guerra, F.; Reite, M.; Smith, P. The clinical use of the Multiple Sleep Latency Test. Sleep 1992; 15:268–276.
  5. ^ Carskadon, M.A.; Dement, W.C. Sleep studies on a 90-minute day. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. 39: 145–155, 1975.

External links

  • Mary Carskadon's page on the MSLT [1]

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • multiple sleep latency test — (MSLT) measurement of the speed at which an individual falls asleep when given multiple opportunities to sleep throughout the day and instructed not to resist doing so; used as a measure of physiological sleepiness …   Medical dictionary

  • Sleep debt — is the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep. A large sleep debt may lead to mental and/or physical fatigue. There is debate in the scientific community over the specifics of sleep debt. Scientific skepticism There is debate among… …   Wikipedia

  • Sleep medicine — is a medical subspecialty devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of sleep disturbances and disorders. From the middle of the 20th century, research has provided increasing knowledge and answered many questions about sleep wake functioning. [cite… …   Wikipedia

  • Sleep Wake Activity Inventory — The sleep wake activity inventory (SWAI) is a subjective multidimensional questionnaire intended to measure sleepiness. The instrument The SWAI consists of 59 items that provide six subscale scores: Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Nocturnal Sleep,… …   Wikipedia

  • test — 1. To prove; to try a substance; to determine the chemical nature of a substance by means of reagents. 2. A method of examination, as to determine the presence or absence of a definite disease or of some substance in any of the fluids, tissues,… …   Medical dictionary

  • Delayed sleep phase syndrome — Classification and external resources ICD 10 G47.2 ICD 9 327.31 …   Wikipedia

  • Sleep — Waking up redirects here. For other uses, see Waking Up (disambiguation). This article is about sleep in general; for specifically non human sleep see Sleep (non human); for other uses, see Sleep (disambiguation). Sleeping child Sleep is a… …   Wikipedia

  • MSLT — Multiple Sleep Latency Test. (Test de latencia múltiple del sueño) …   Diccionario de siglas médicas y otras abreviaturas

  • MSLT — Multiple sleep latency test (Medical » Physiology) …   Abbreviations dictionary

  • Narcolepsy — For other uses, see Narcolepsy (disambiguation). Narcolepsy Classification and external resources ICD 10 G47.4 ICD 9 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”