Endorsed Guidelines

World Sleep Society International Sleep Medicine Guidelines Position Statement Endorsement of “Behavioral and Psychological Treatments for Chronic Insomnia Disorder in Adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines”

Published September 2023 | Read online on Sleep Medicine | Read Original Endorse Guideline

Abstract

This paper summarizes the position statement of the World Sleep Society (WSS) International Guidelines Committee regarding the Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Behavioral and Psychological Treatments for Chronic Insomnia Disorder in Adults prepared by a task force of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). The practice guidelines were reviewed for their relevance and applicability to the practice of sleep medicine around the world. The WSS Work Group endorsed the AASM strong recommendation for Multicomponent Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as the treatment of choice for Insomnia Disorder and conditional endorsement for its single-therapy components (sleep restriction, stimulus control, relaxation); use of sleep hygiene education as single therapy was not endorsed due to lack of evidence for its efficacy. The strong recommendation for multicomponent CBT-I applied to patients with chronic insomnia disorder with or without comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions. Main caveats with regard to CBT-I remains the lack of adequately trained therapists and variability in terms of training available in different parts of the world. Unanswered questions about the applicability, availability, accessibility and potential sociodemographic (age, sex, ethnicity, regions) moderators of treatment outcomes were discussed. Despite growing evidence documenting the benefits of digital CBT-I, individual, in-person CBT-I delivered by a trained professional (mental health) provider is regarded as the optimal method to deliver CBT-I.

Endorsement of “European Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Insomnia” by World Sleep Society

Published May 2021 | Read online on Sleep Medicine | Download .pdf | View Original Endorsed Guideline

Abstract

The European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia (1) was developed by a task force of the European Sleep Research Society, which was composed of 27 experts with clinical experience on insomnia management from different European countries and the European Insomnia Network. The guideline focused on insomnia disorder as defined by ICD-10/ICSD-3. Its starting point was the previously published guideline by the German Sleep Society, which was revised and expanded based on a review of relevant meta-analyses of insomnia therapies published through June 2016. The scope of this guideline was to provide recommendations on the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder. This guideline was selected for review by the World Sleep Society (WSS) Insomnia Task Force and the WSS International Sleep Medicine Guidelines Committee. A task force of content experts from the WSS has reviewed this guideline specifically for its relevance and applicability to the practice of sleep medicine by sleep specialists that comprise its membership.

Partial Endorsement of: “Video-polysomnography Procedures for Diagnosis of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) and the Identification of Its Prodromal stages: Guidelines from the International RBD Study Group” by the World Sleep Society

Published October 2023 | Read online on Sleep Medicine | Read Original Endorsed Guideline

Abstract

Updated guidelines for the video-polysomnography (vPSG) procedures for diagnosing rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and the identification of its prodromal stages have recently been proposed by the Neurophysiology Working Group of the International RBD Study Group (IRBDSG). These guidelines were selected for review by a World Sleep Society (WSS) Parasomnias Task Force and the WSS International Sleep Medicine Guidelines Committee. A survey was completed by sleep society leaders and prominent sleep clinicians and researchers in 31 WSS member countries across six continents, focused on sleep technologist training and certification; extent of public/private health insurance coverage for the vPSG evaluation of RBD; extent of hospital-based sleep-technologist-attended overnight vPSG studies; availability of video during PSG studies; and sufficient specification of PSG machines to record and analyze REM sleep without atonia. The findings from this survey indicated that most health systems and medical communities across WSS member countries would not be capable of implementing the proposed more stringent guidelines, which would then strongly interfere with the diagnosis of RBD in a large portion of patients who would not be able to receive the required (often repeated) vPSG evaluation. Therefore, the WSS can only partially endorse the updated guidelines and concludes that the current International Classification of Sleep Disorders-3rd edition diagnostic criteria for RBD should still be retained as the standard reference for the diagnosis of RBD, and that further discussion across all members of the IRBDSG should take place to ensure the feasibility of any future proposed changes.

Endorsement of “Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline” by World Sleep Society

Published March 2021 | Read online on Sleep Medicine | Download .pdf | View Original Endorsed Guideline