Epilepsy and Sleep: Sleep Hygiene and Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Deprivation, Circadian Patterns and Epilepsy Surgery - Abstract
The relationship between epilepsy and sleep is complex and dynamic. Sleep complaints and concomitant sleep disorders are common in people with epilepsy. Seizures and antiepileptic drugs can alter sleep architecture.There have been conflicting findings on the impact of sleep deprivation on seizures; however there is evidence to support the improved specificity of epilepsy diagnosis when a negative routine EEG is followed with a sleep-deprived study. The timing of seizure occurrence may be influenced by seizure onset localization; however much remains to be investigated regarding the impact of circadian rhythms and sleep patterns on seizure control. Lastly, epilepsy surgery has been shown to improve sleep quality in patients who remain seizure free. There have been advances in epilepsy and sleep research in light of newer investigational techniques, improved awareness of comorbid sleep disorders and the increasing prevalence of surgically-cured epilepsy patients. This article reviews the impact of sleep hygiene and obstructive sleep apnea on seizures, sleep deprivation on seizures, the circadian pattern on seizures, and finally the impact of epilepsy surgery on sleep.