Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Book Review of Sleep Disorders and Neurologic Diseases, 2e

NEW REVIEW -- CULEBRAS/Sleep Disorders and Neurologic Diseases, 2nd Edition
informa Healthcare/Taylor & Francis, 2007, $229.95

[AUTHOR]
Culebras, Antonio, MD

[BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA]
ISBN: 978-0-8493-4324-7, Series Title: Sleep Disorders, v. 2, 432 pages, hard
cover.

[DOODY'S NOTES]


[REVIEWER'S EXPERT OPINION]
Regina Lopez, MD(Rush University Medical Center)

**Description**
This book examines the neurology of sleep and sleep disorders in neurologic
diseases. New sections in this edition cover topics such as the
hypocretin-hypothalamic system, sleep disorders associated with mental
retardation, and autonomic dysfunctions in sleep disorders. The previous
edition was published in 2000.

**Purpose**
According to the editor, the book's purpose is to serve as a reference for those
who practice sleep medicine and encounter neurological pathology. It also
provides specialized information for the non-neurologist. These are worthy
objectives given the increased interest and research in the field of sleep
medicine.

**Audience**
The author's targeted audience includes those specialists who practice sleep
medicine and manage those with neuropathology. In addition, the book is written
for both neurologists and non-neurologists dealing with patients with sleep
disorders. The book is least relevant for the non-neurologist, because it is
written with the assumption that the reader has a decent knowledge base in
sleep medicine and neurologic diseases. The contributors are international
experts in sleep and its disorders.

**Features**
Most chapters cover the epidemiology, clinical features, pathophysiology,
diagnosis, and management of a specific disorder or group of disorders.
Historical perspectives and clinical cases are used in some chapters. Although
multiple polysomnographic recordings are incorporated as examples, the quality
is not great in some. Overall, the figures tend to be too small.

**Assessment**
This is a worthy contribution to the field that thoroughly and understandably
covers the interface between sleep disorders and neurologic diseases. The
extensive literature referenced is both up-to-date and relevant. As a
non-neurologist, I recommend this book to those who already have a basic
understanding of the subject and want to learn more about it.

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Weighted Numerical Score: 85 - 3 Stars


I highly recommend this book, especially for those interested in the interface between sleep medicine and neurologic disease.