About The Course
Neuropsychiatry of Sleep – Application to Clinical Practice provides a comprehensive exploration of the neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neurochemistry of sleep-wake regulation. Sleep is a fundamental process governing cognition, emotional regulation, and neurobiological stability, yet its role in psychiatric disorders remains underrecognized.
Disruptions in sleep-wake mechanisms contribute to mood disorders, psychosis, and cognitive dysfunction, making an understanding of sleep neurobiology essential for clinical practice. This course examines the physiology of sleep, neurotransmitter dynamics, and structural brain correlates, offering a framework for understanding the intersection between sleep and psychiatric conditions.
This course enhances clinical knowledge of sleep as a core component of brain function and mental health.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is suitable for:
- Psychiatrists
- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (MHNPs)
- Psychologists
- Mental health professionals
- Clinicians working in or expanding into psychiatry and mental health care
Accreditation Information:
- Psychiatry Accreditation: This course is available for self-accreditation with the RANZCP and other relevant psychiatric and mental health organisations.
- GP Accreditation: This course is available for self-accreditation with RACGP for general practitioners.
What You'll Learn
- Understand the physiological processes and systems involved in sleep cycles and sleep regulation.
- Explore the neurobiology and neurochemistry of sleep-wake regulation.
- Recognise how sleep-wake dysregulation contributes to psychiatric disorders, influencing mood, cognition, and symptom severity across neuropsychiatric conditions.
- Investigate the structural and functional brain correlates of sleep, focusing on key regions such as the prefrontal cortex, limbic system, and thalamocortical networks.
- Analyse the impact of psychotropic medications on sleep, including how SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, antipsychotics, and sedative-hypnotics alter sleep architecture and clinical outcomes.
Course Programme
8 Modules | 39 Units | 2 hours total length
- Homeostatic Process (Process S) – Sleep Pressure and Recovery
- Circadian Process (Process C) – The Role of the SCN
- Interaction of Process S and Process C in Sleep Regulation
- Stages of Sleep - REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and NREM (Non-rapid eye movement sleep)
- Characteristics of different sleep stages: NREM Sleep - N1, N2, N3 (non-REM stage)
- Sleep Cycle and Microarchitecture
- Wakefulness: ARAS - Two major pathways
- Flip-Flop Model of Wakefulness
- Flip-Flop Model of Sleep
- Wake-Promoting Neurotransmitters: Dopamine, Orexin, Histamine
- Sleep-Promoting Neurotransmitters: GABA, Galanin, Adenosine
- Monoamines and Their Role in REM and NREM Sleep
- REM sleep and the importance of NA Time-out
- Other Neurotransmitters: Acetylcholine, Histamine, Serotonin (5-HT), and Galanin, Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), Adenosine, Cytokines, Prostaglandin
- Neurophysiology of NREM Sleep – Slow-Wave Activity and Synaptic Homeostasis
- Neurophysiology of REM Sleep – Cortical Activation and Emotional Regulation
- Clinical Implications of Restful REM sleep and Restless REM Sleep
- REM Atonia
- Sleep Oscillations – Delta, Theta, and Beta Waves
- The Prefrontal Cortex and Sleep-Dependent Cognitive Function
- The Limbic System and Emotional Processing During Sleep
- Sleep Deprivation, PFC and Adolescent Brains
- The Thalamocortical Network and Sensory Processing in Sleep
- The CSTC: Direct (Excitatory) pathways and Indirect (Inhibitory) pathways
- Abnormalities of Process S and C as aetiological contributors to Insomnia
- Neurobiological correlates of Hyperarousal
- Clinical features in insomnia and their neurobiological correlates
- REM sleep without atonia and REM sleep behaviour disorder
- Sleep and Hunger
- NREM parasomnias
- Effects of medications on sleep: SSRIs, TCAs, SNRI, Agomelatine, Vortioxetine, Mirtazapine, Trazodone
- Amphetamine-like stimulants
- Wake-promoting, non-traditional stimulants
- Non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists
- Antihistamines
- Orexin (hypocretin) receptor antagonists
- Antipsychotics - Typical and Atypical
- Cyproheptadine
- Montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonist), β-blockers, etc.
- Alpha (α2) agonists and Alpha (α1) antagonist
Course Description
Neuropsychiatry of Sleep – Application to Clinical Practice
Sleep is crucial for both mental and physical health, yet it often goes under-appreciated in clinical practice. This course provides mental health professionals, doctors, and health practitioners with vital knowledge on the neuropsychiatry of sleep. It focuses on sleep-wake regulation, the effects of psychotropic medications, and practical management strategies. Through engaging video-based learning and assessments, you will refine your clinical approach to sleep disorders, ultimately improving patient care.
Module 1: The Physiology of Sleep-Wake Cycle Regulation
Explore how Process S (homeostatic sleep pressure) and Process C (circadian rhythms) regulate sleep. Examine the role of adenosine buildup, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and environmental cues in sleep-wake stability.
Module 2: Sleep Structure
Investigate the distinct stages of NREM (N1, N2, N3) and REM sleep. Examine how slow-wave sleep supports memory consolidation, how REM sleep regulates emotions, and how disruptions impact brain function.
Module 3: Neurobiology of Sleep-Wake Regulation
Examine how the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS), ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO), and the hypothalamic flip-flop switch control wakefulness and sleep transitions.
Module 4: Neurotransmitters in the Sleep-Wake Cycle
Understand how GABA, galanin, dopamine, orexin, serotonin, and noradrenaline regulate sleep initiation, maintenance, and REM-NREM transitions, linking neurotransmitter function to psychiatric disorders.
Module 5: Neurochemistry, Neurophysiology, and Neurobiology of Sleep Phases
Explore how slow-wave sleep supports synaptic homeostasis, how REM sleep interacts with dopaminergic pathways, and how cortical oscillations (delta, theta, beta waves) maintain sleep stability and cognition.
Module 6: Structural Correlates in Sleep-Wake Regulation
Explore the role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in cognition, the limbic system in emotional processing, and the thalamocortical network in sensory regulation, integrating functional neuroimaging insights.
Module 7: Application of Neurobiology to Clinical Practice
Examine how dysfunctions in Process S and Process C contribute to insomnia, the neurobiology of hyperarousal, and the mechanisms underlying REM sleep behaviour disorder, sleep-hunger interactions, and NREM parasomnias.
Module 8: Psychotropics and Sleep
Assess how SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and antipsychotics affect REM suppression, the influence of stimulants and wake-promoting agents, and how orexin antagonists, antihistamines, and alpha-adrenergic agents alter sleep architecture.
By completing this course, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of the neuropsychiatry of sleep and sleep-wake regulation. This knowledge will enhance your ability to interpret sleep-related neurobiological processes within psychiatric practice, improving clinical assessments and patient care. Take the next step in expanding your expertise-enrol today to deepen your understanding of sleep and its role in mental health.
Participants will receive a course completion certificate and 2 CPD hours (EA 1.5, RP 0.5) upon successful completion.
Neuropsychiatry of Sleep – Application to Clinical Practice explores the fundamental role of sleep in cognition, emotional regulation, and neurobiological stability. This course examines the neurobiology of sleep-wake regulation, its relevance to psychiatric disorders, and the impact of psychotropic medications, providing a scientific foundation for integrating sleep into clinical practice.
Course Information
- 2 hours
- 2 CPD
Inclusions
- Video Lectures
- Self-assessments
- Certificate of Completion
Material Downloads
- certificate
Instructor
Dr. Sanil Rege Course Reviewer - MBBS, MRCPsych, FRANZCP
With extensive teaching experience through psychiatry education initiatives, Sanil is recognised as a motivational training facilitator and educator who promotes insightful collaboration and discussion
As the Academic Lead of Psych Scene and Chief Editor of Psych Scene Hub, he aspires to make a difference in mental health by empowering Healthcare Professionals to advance their skills and career through the provision of specialised education and training
Sanil is also founder of Vita Healthcare, a private clinic in Mount Eliza specialising in adult mental healthcare, with over 20 years of clinical experience and 13 years of private practice experience treating disorders across the spectrum. He currently works in the community, across in-patient, consultation-liaison and addiction psychiatry.
