About The Course
This curriculum explores sleep and psychiatry, focusing on the neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neurochemistry of sleep-wake regulation. Participants will learn about evidence-based treatments for sleep disorders, including cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) and pharmacotherapies. The curriculum empowers healthcare professionals to optimize diagnosis and management of sleep disorders, enhancing patient outcomes. Designed for psychiatrists, general practitioners, and allied health professionals, it offers valuable insights into the intersection of sleep 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 curriculum is available for self-accreditation with the RANZCP and other relevant psychiatric and mental health organisations.
- GP Accreditation: This curriculum is accredited by RACGP for general practitioners.
What You'll Learn
- Discuss the science behind sleep and offer a conceptual framework for clinicians to use in practice.
- Recognise sleep as a core function of health and wellbeing and understand its physiological mechanisms.
- Discuss the key features of insomnia and how it presents among different patients.
- Identify evidence-based treatment approaches for insomnia including CBT and pharmacotherapy.
- Discuss some specific clinical cases in our interactive Question & Answer Session.
- 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
14 Modules | 59 Topics | 7.5 hours total length
- What is Normal Sleep?
- The Mozambique Study
- Common Sleep Myths
- Key Facts and Figures
- Sleep and Wake Mechanisms
- Circadian Rhythm
- Clinical Sleep Medicine
- Neurobiological mechanisms involved in sleeping and waking
- The Flip-Flop Model - Waking and Sleeping
- Sleep Regulation - Sleep Instability and Drive
- Sleep regulation
- Clinical Tips
- The Epidemiology of Insomnia Disorder
- Acute versus Chronic Insomnia
- Insomnia versus Sleep Dissatisfaction
- Insomnia Stages
- What is CBTi?
- Question and Answer Session
- Insomnia Disorder (DSM-V) - Key Criteria
- Clinical Audit Activity
- Process S (Homeostatic Process)
- Process C (Circadian Process)
- The Glymphatic system
- 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)
- Wakefulness: ARAS - Two major pathways
- Flip-Flop Model of Wakefulness
- Sleep: Flip-Flop Model of Sleep
- Role of Dopamine
- Dreams as a Reward State
- Role of Noradrenaline
- REM sleep and NA
- Other Neurotransmitters: Orexin, Acetylcholine, Histamine, Serotonin (5-HT), GABA and Galanin, Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), Adenosine, Cytokines, Prostaglandin
- REM sleep and Functions of REM sleep
- GABA lock
- Clinical Implications of Restful REM sleep and Restless REM Sleep
- REM Atonia
- NREM Sleep
- PFC and Sleep deprivation
- PFC and Adolescence
- Role of the Mesolimbic system
- Role of Globus Pallidus
- 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
Sleep & Psychiatry: Neuropsychiatric and Precision Approaches
Sleep is a cornerstone of mental and physical health, yet sleep disorders often go undiagnosed and untreated in clinical practice. The neuropsychiatry of sleep bridges the gap between sleep disorders and psychiatric care, offering actionable insights for precise, evidence-based interventions. This expert-led curriculum integrates two comprehensive courses—Precision Sleep Medicine: A Neuroscientific Roadmap from Symptoms to Tailored Treatments and Neuropsychiatry of Sleep: Application to Clinical Practice—equipping clinicians with the expertise to assess, diagnose, and treat sleep disorders with confidence.
Healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, general practitioners, and allied health professionals, will gain a structured understanding of sleep-wake regulation, the impact of sleep disturbances on psychiatric conditions, and evidence-based interventions. Through interactive learning and case-based discussions, participants will develop practical skills to integrate sleep assessment into clinical practice, enhancing patient care and outcomes.
This curriculum, led by Dr. David Cunnington and Dr. Sanil Rege, provides a structured approach to sleep physiology, the neurobiology of sleep, and the clinical features of sleep disorders. Participants will explore insomnia, its physiological mechanisms, and its broader impact on mental health. Covering both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, including cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi), the curriculum enhances clinical skills in sleep disorder management. Case-based discussions and interactive learning deepen clinical reasoning, ensuring that participants can apply their knowledge in real-world practice.
Precision Sleep Medicine: A Neuroscientific Roadmap from Symptoms to Tailored Treatments
Led by Dr. David Cunnington, this on-demand course provides a comprehensive understanding of sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, and their management. It integrates sleep and psychiatry principles to help practitioners understand the neurobiology behind these conditions. Participants will explore sleep physiology, the functions of sleep, common misconceptions, and offers practical guidance on improving patient outcomes.
Participants will delve into insomnia’s impact on cognitive function, mood regulation, and overall health, with a focus on both cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) and pharmacological treatments. Interactive case discussions are a key part of this course, helping participants apply precision sleep medicine principles in clinical practice. By the end of the course, participants will have practical strategies to improve sleep assessments and treatments in their clinical environments.
This self-paced, on-demand course includes 1.5 hours of expert-led video content, complemented by infographics, audit activities etc for deeper learning. Accredited by RACGP for 5 CPD hours, participants receive a certificate upon completion, supporting their professional development.
Click here for more information on the course – Precision Sleep Medicine: A Neuroscientific Roadmap from Symptoms to Tailored Treatments
Neuropsychiatry of Sleep: Application to Clinical Practice
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neurochemistry of sleep-wake regulation. Sleep is essential for cognition, emotional stability, and overall neurobiological function, yet its role in psychiatry is often overlooked. This course examines how sleep disruptions contribute to psychiatric disorders, emphasizing their impact on mental health.
Understanding sleep neurobiology is crucial for clinical practice, as disturbances are linked to mood disorders, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. This course explores sleep physiology, neurotransmitter dynamics, and brain structure correlations, offering a comprehensive framework for integrating sleep and psychiatry into psychiatric care. Designed for psychiatrists, general practitioners, and allied health professionals, it enhances expertise in sleep and psychiatry.
Course modules include:
- Physiology of Sleep-Wake Cycle Regulation: Learn about the homeostatic and circadian processes and their role in overall health.
- Sleep Structure: Explore NREM and REM cycles and their impact on cognitive and physiological functions.
- Neurobiology of Sleep-Wake Regulation: Understand the complex interplay between wake-promoting and sleep-promoting neurons, and key neurotransmitter systems.
- Neurotransmitters in the Sleep-wake Cycle: Discover how neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline affect sleep quality.
- Neurochemistry, Neurophysiology and Neurobiology of Sleep Phases: Investigate the biological processes underlying REM and NREM sleep and their role in memory, emotional regulation, and sleep disorders.
- Structural Correlates in Sleep-Wake Regulation: Analyse the brain regions involved in sleep regulation and the impact of sleep deprivation on mental health.
- Applications of Neurobiology to Clinical Practice: Learn how to apply neurobiological insights to diagnose and manage conditions like insomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea, and restless legs syndrome.
- Psychotropics and Sleep: Assess the impact of medications such as SSRIs and TCAs on sleep and learn strategies to optimise treatment.
Click here for more information on the course – Neuropsychiatry of Sleep – Application to Clinical Practice
By the end of this curriculum, participants will have developed practical skills to integrate sleep assessment into clinical practice, enhancing both patient care and outcomes. A key part of the course is understanding how the neuropsychiatry of sleep informs the treatment of these disorders.
Advance your expertise with an evidence-based approach to sleep medicine and psychiatry. This curriculum provides in-depth insights into sleep neurobiology and precision sleep medicine, equipping you with the skills to manage sleep disorders effectively.
Enrol today and enhance your understanding of sleep and mental health in clinical practice.
Upon completion, participants will earn a course completion certificate and 7.5 CPD hours.
While our Academy members enjoy exclusive access to a range of courses and webinars (including this course) with their annual membership, we’re pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchase this course individually!
Please click on the respective links to take advantage of this offer.
For Psychiatrists: Sleep And Psychiatry: Curriculum for Psychiatrists
For General Practitioners: Sleep And Psychiatry: Curriculum for GPs
This course explores the link between sleep and mental health, examining neuropsychiatric sleep disorders, psychotropic medications, and evidence-based strategies to enhance clinical practice and improve patient outcomes.
Course Information
- 7.5 hours
- 7.5 CPD
Inclusions
- 3 Hours+ Video lectures
- Reading Material and Infographics
- Self-assessments
- Clinical Audit Activity
- Certificate of Completion
Material Downloads
- certificate
Instructors
Dr David Cunnington Guest Speaker - MBBS MMedSc MAppMgt FRACP FAASM FCCP RPSGT
Dr David Cunnington is a specialist sleep physician delivering quality healthcare to clients with complex sleep problems and promoting sleep health through education, research and advocacy.
Dr Cunnington undertook training in sleep medicine both in Australia and in Boston at Harvard Medical School. In addition to training in sleep medicine, David has international qualifications in behavioural sleep medicine, using non-drug treatments to manage sleep.
Dr Cunnington has a passion for all things sleep, and with his breadth of experience and training, is devoted to helping to develop the field of sleep medicine as well as educating health care professionals and the public about sleep. He regularly appears in print, radio, TV and online media as an expert commentator on sleep, and is a regular national and international keynote speaker.
Dr. Sanil Rege Host and Course Reviewer - MBBS, MRCPsych, FRANZCP
With extensive teaching experience through psychiatry education initiatives, Sanil is recognized 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 spaces.
