ABFM Sleep Medicine study plan
ABFM Sleep Medicine · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep
List the ICSD-3 diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and sleep-related hypoventilation from memory
Differentiate narcolepsy type 1 vs type 2 by hypocretin status and cataplexy
Map the four REM sleep parasomnias to their polysomnographic hallmarks
Explain the MSLT protocol and its interpretation rules for narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia
Your checkpoint
A one-page comparison table of the major sleep-disorder diagnostic criteria with PSG findings, self-graded against source notes
Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep
Select first-line therapy for OSA across mild, moderate, and severe AHI strata
Compare PAP modalities (CPAP, BPAP, ASV) by indication and contraindication
Contrast oral appliance therapy, positional therapy, and surgical options by patient profile
Outline pediatric OSA evaluation and adenotonsillectomy indications
Your checkpoint
Ten written clinical vignettes with a chosen management plan and a one-line rationale for each
Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep & Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that disturb sleep
Distinguish restless legs syndrome from periodic limb movement disorder using diagnostic criteria
Apply the iron studies and dopamine-agonist treatment algorithm for RLS
Explain REM sleep behavior disorder workup and its association with synucleinopathies
Differentiate NREM arousal disorders from REM parasomnias by timing and EEG features
Your checkpoint
A decision flowchart for parasomnia and movement-disorder evaluation, reproduced from memory then corrected
Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that disturb sleep
Evaluate insomnia using the ICSD-3 criteria and screen for comorbid psychiatric and medical causes
Compare CBT-I components against pharmacologic options by efficacy and risk
Identify sleep-disrupting effects of common drug classes (stimulants, beta-blockers, corticosteroids, SSRIs)
Recognize sleep disturbance patterns in depression, anxiety, and chronic pain
Your checkpoint
A timed 20-question self-authored quiz on insomnia and secondary sleep disturbance, scored with a written error review
Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that disturb sleep
Outline a structured differential for excessive daytime sleepiness
Interpret MSLT and actigraphy results in the context of insufficient sleep syndrome
Describe evaluation and management of circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders
Screen for sleep-disordered breathing in patients with heart failure, COPD, and atrial fibrillation
Your checkpoint
A completed differential-and-workup worksheet for three EDS vignettes with cited reasoning
Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions affected by disturbances in the wake-sleep cycle
Explain how sleep restriction and circadian misalignment worsen glycemic control and blood pressure
Describe sleep's role in seizure threshold and epilepsy management
Identify sleep-related risk in shift workers and apply countermeasure strategies
Counsel patients on drowsy-driving risk and fitness-to-drive assessment
Your checkpoint
A one-page patient-education handout on shift-work and drowsy-driving countermeasures
Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions affected by disturbances in the wake-sleep cycle & Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep
Integrate sleep evaluation into chronic disease management for obesity, diabetes, and hypertension
Apply perioperative and pre-procedural sleep apnea risk assessment (e.g., STOP-BANG) to planning
Select and interpret home sleep apnea testing vs in-lab polysomnography by pretest probability
Reconcile conflicting guideline recommendations on OSA screening in asymptomatic adults
Your checkpoint
Two full-length practice vignette sets (integrated domains) with a written justification for each answer choice
Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep & Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that disturb sleep & Diagnosis and management of clinical conditions affected by disturbances in the wake-sleep cycle
Re-drill all previously missed items from weeks 1-7
Complete a timed full-length mixed-domain practice exam
Summarize the ten highest-yield facts per domain on a single review sheet
Identify and schedule remediation for the two weakest subtopics
Your checkpoint
A timed full-length practice exam score report plus a one-page high-yield review sheet and remediation plan
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 80% on the ten self-authored OSA management vignettes without notes
Week 4: Score at least 75% on the insomnia and sleep-disturbance quiz, with every missed item rewritten as a corrected flashcard
Week 6: Produce the shift-work and drowsy-driving handout and explain all four domain-3 goals aloud in under 10 minutes
Week 8: Achieve at least 75% on the timed full-length practice exam and close all week-1 through week-7 error-log items