ABPN Sleep Medicine study plan

Diagram the ascending arousal system and sleep-promoting nuclei, labeling each neurotransmitter and its effect on wakefulness

Trace the two-process model of sleep regulation, explaining how homeostatic pressure and circadian timing interact to govern sleep propensity

Map the normal hypnogram across a night, identifying typical percentages and timing of N1, N2, N3, and REM

List the standard polysomnography montage channels and state the purpose of each

Explain the ontogeny of sleep architecture from infancy through adolescence, including when REM and slow-wave sleep proportions shift

Apply the scoring criteria for hypopneas, obstructive apneas, and central apneas to distinguish event types

Calculate the apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index from a sample summary and classify severity

Differentiate obstructive sleep apnea from central sleep apnea and sleep-related hypoventilation by clinical and polysomnographic features

Describe positive airway pressure titration goals and the indications for bilevel and adaptive servo-ventilation

Interpret the role of home sleep apnea testing versus in-lab polysomnography in diagnostic pathways

Compare oral appliance therapy, positional therapy, and upper airway surgery by indication, expected efficacy, and limitations

Identify hypoventilation syndromes including obesity hypoventilation and neuromuscular causes, and outline their management

Explain how pediatric obstructive sleep apnea differs from adult OSA in presentation, diagnostic criteria, and first-line treatment

List the effects of untreated sleep-disordered breathing on cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes

Describe pregnancy-specific considerations in screening and treating sleep-disordered breathing

Apply the diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia disorder, including frequency and duration requirements

Sequence the components of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and explain the rationale for stimulus control and sleep restriction

Match pharmacologic agents for insomnia to patient profiles, noting mechanism, half-life, and key adverse effects

Recognize the risks of sedative-hypnotics in older adults and describe deprescribing approaches

Distinguish insomnia from comorbid conditions that mimic or drive it, such as depression and restless legs syndrome

Interpret the multiple sleep latency test, including mean sleep latency and sleep-onset REM period criteria for narcolepsy

Differentiate narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia by clinical features and testing

Describe the role of hypocretin and HLA testing in narcolepsy evaluation

Explain treatment strategies for narcolepsy including wake-promoting agents and sodium oxybate

Distinguish delayed sleep phase, advanced sleep phase, shift work disorder, and jet lag by timing and management

Classify NREM parasomnias versus REM parasomnias by sleep stage of onset and typical polysomnographic findings

Distinguish disorders of arousal from REM sleep behavior disorder and from nocturnal seizures

Outline the evaluation and safety counseling for REM sleep behavior disorder, including its association with synucleinopathies

Apply the diagnostic criteria for restless legs syndrome and describe first-line pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment

Explain the clinical significance of periodic limb movements and how they are scored

Describe how obstructive lung disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease alter sleep and sleep testing interpretation

Identify medications that disrupt sleep architecture, including antidepressants, stimulants, and corticosteroids

Explain sleep changes in depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder and how they inform management

List age-related changes in sleep architecture and apply them to interpreting testing in older adults

Describe adolescent circadian shifts and their interaction with school schedules and sleep restriction

Synthesize all domains by working through mixed-topic case vignettes under timed conditions

Re-derive the highest-yield criteria sets for each domain from memory

Identify and remediate the three weakest domains based on practice performance

Review missed concepts and restate each corrected fact in your own words