Sleep disorders Practice Questions

Question 1

A 45-year-old obese man presents to his primary care provider for an annual physical. The patient states that he has noticed increased sleepiness during the day at work over the past 6 months in addition to difficulty concentrating and worsening memory. He denies recent weight loss, and is not sure if he snores because he sleeps by himself. His past medical history is significant for hypertension and type II diabetes. Vital signs are T 98.6 F, HR 75 bpm, BP 140/90 mm Hg, RR 18/min. Physical exam reveals a 350 pound man. Jugular venous distension is difficult to evaluate due to excess tissue in the neck. There is no peripheral edema. Lung exam is normal. Routine CBC shows WBC count of 5000 cells/ml, platelet count of 350,000/mcL, hemoglobin of 18 gm/dL, and hematocrit of 54%. What is the most likely cause of his abnormal lab results?

Accepted Answer

Sleep apnea

Answer

JAK2 mutation

Answer

Malignancy

Answer

Cor pulmonale

Answer

Diuretic overuse

Question 2

A 63-year-old man presents to his primary care physician complaining of excessive daytime sleepiness. He explains that this problem has worsened slowly over the past few years but is now interfering with his ability to play with his grandchildren. He worked previously as an overnight train conductor, but he has been retired for the past 3 years. He sleeps approximately 8-9 hours per night and believes his sleep quality is good; however, his wife notes that he often snores loudly during sleep. He has never experienced muscle weakness or hallucinations. He has also been experiencing headaches in the morning and endorses a depressed mood. His physical exam is most notable for his large body habitus, with a BMI of 34. What is the best description of the underlying mechanism for this patient's excessive daytime sleepiness?

Accepted Answer

Poor oropharyngeal tone

Answer

Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder

Answer

Deficiency of the neuropeptides, orexin-A and orexin-B

Answer

Insufficient sleep duration

Answer

Psychiatric disorder

Question 3

A mother brings her 7-year-old son to the pediatrician because she is worried about his sleep. She reports that the child has repeatedly woken up in the middle of the night screaming and thrashing. Although she tries to reassure the child, he does not respond to her or acknowledge her presence. Soon after she arrives, he stops screaming and appears confused and lethargic before falling back asleep. When asked about these events, the child reports that he cannot recall ever waking up or having any bad dreams. These events typically occur within four hours of the child going to sleep. The child’s past medical history is notable for asthma and type I diabetes mellitus. He uses albuterol and long-acting insulin. There have been no recent changes in this patient’s medication regimen. His family history is notable for obesity and obstructive sleep apnea in his father. Physical examination reveals a healthy male at the 40th and 45th percentiles for height and weight, respectively. Which of the following EEG waveforms is most strongly associated with this patient’s condition?

Accepted Answer

Delta waves

Answer

Theta waves

Answer

Sleep spindles

Answer

Beta waves

Answer

Alpha waves

Question 4

A 21-year-old man presents to the clinic complaining of feeling tired during the day. He is concerned as his grades in school have worsened and he does not want to lose his scholarship. Upon further questioning, the patient describes frequently experiencing a dreamlike state before falling asleep and after waking up. He also has frequent nighttime awakenings where he finds himself unable to move. He denies snoring. The patient does not drink alcohol or abuse any other drugs. The patient's BMI is 21 kg/m2, and his vital signs are all within normal limits. What is this patient's diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Narcolepsy

Answer

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Answer

Insomnia

Answer

Alcohol withdrawal

Answer

Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS)

Question 5

A 55-year-old man presents to the physician for the evaluation of excessive daytime sleepiness over the past six months. Despite sleeping 8–9 hours a night and taking a nap during the day, he feels drowsy and is afraid to drive. His wife complains of loud snoring and gasping during the night. His blood pressure is 155/95 mm Hg. BMI is 37 kg/m2. Oropharyngeal examination shows a small orifice and an enlarged tongue and uvula. The soft palate is low-lying. The examination of the nasal cavity shows no septal deviation or polyps. Examination of the lungs and heart shows no abnormalities. Polysomnography shows an apnea-hypopnea index of 20 episodes/h. The patient is educated about weight loss, exercise, and regular sleep hours and duration. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

Accepted Answer

Continuous positive airway pressure

Answer

Upper airway neurostimulation

Answer

Supplemental oxygen

Answer

Oral appliances

Answer

Upper airway surgery

Question 6

A 40-year-old man with a past medical history of major depression presents to the clinic. He is interested in joining a research study on depression-related sleep disturbances. He had 2 episodes of major depression within the last 2 years, occurring once during the summer and then during the winter of the other year. He has been non-compliant with medication and has a strong desire to treat his condition with non-pharmacological methods. He would like to be enrolled in this study that utilizes polysomnography to record sleep-wave patterns. Which of the following findings is likely associated with this patient’s psychiatric condition?

Accepted Answer

Decreased REM sleep latency

Answer

Increased REM sleep latency

Answer

Associated with a seasonal pattern

Answer

Increased slow wave sleep

Answer

Late morning awakenings

Question 7

A 25-year-old male presents to his primary care physician with a chief complaint of anxiety and fatigue. The patient states that during this past week he has had final exams and has been unable to properly study and prepare because he is so exhausted. He states that he has been going to bed early but has been unable to get a good night’s sleep. The patient admits to occasional cocaine and marijuana use. Otherwise, the patient has no significant past medical history and is not taking any medications. On physical exam you note a tired and anxious appearing young man. His neurological exam is within normal limits. The patient states that he fears he will fail his courses if he does not come up with a solution. Which of the following is the best initial step in management?

Accepted Answer

Sleep hygiene education

Answer

Polysomnography

Answer

Alprazolam

Answer

Melatonin

Answer

Zolpidem

Question 8

A 17-year-old high school student comes to the physician because of a 6-month history of insomnia. On school nights, he goes to bed around 11 p.m. but has had persistent problems falling asleep and instead studies at his desk until he feels sleepy around 2 a.m. He does not wake up in the middle of the night. He is worried that he does not get enough sleep. He has significant difficulties waking up on weekdays and has repeatedly been late to school. At school, he experiences daytime sleepiness and drinks 1–2 cups of coffee in the mornings. He tries to avoid daytime naps. On the weekends, he goes to bed around 2 a.m. and sleeps in until 10 a.m., after which he feels rested. He has no history of severe illness and does not take medication. Which of the following most likely explains this patient's sleep disorder?

Accepted Answer

Delayed sleep-wake disorder

Answer

Inadequate sleep hygiene

Answer

Irregular sleep-wake disorder

Answer

Psychophysiologic insomnia

Answer

Advanced sleep-wake disorder

Question 9

A 5-year-old boy is brought to the physician by his parents because of 2 episodes of screaming in the night over the past week. The parents report that their son woke up suddenly screaming, crying, and aggressively kicking his legs around both times. The episodes lasted several minutes and were accompanied by sweating and fast breathing. The parents state that they were unable to stop the episodes and that their son simply went back to sleep when the episodes were over. The patient cannot recall any details of these incidents. He has a history of obstructive sleep apnea. He takes no medications. His vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Sleep terror disorder

Answer

Restless legs syndrome

Answer

Nightmare disorder

Answer

Sleepwalking disorder

Answer

Insomnia disorder

Question 10

A previously healthy 36-year-old man is brought to the physician by a friend because of fatigue and a depressed mood for the past few weeks. During this time, he has not been going to work and did not show up to meet his friends for two bowling nights. The friend is concerned that he may lose his job. He spends most of his time alone at home watching television on the couch. He has been waking up often at night and sometimes takes 20 minutes to go back to sleep. He has also been drinking half a pint of whiskey per day for 1 week. His wife left him 4 weeks ago and moved out of their house. His vital signs are within normal limits. On mental status examination, he is oriented to person, place and time. He displays a flattened affect and says that he “doesn't know how he can live without his wife.” He denies suicidal ideation. Which of the following is the next appropriate step in management?

Accepted Answer

Initiate cognitive behavioral therapy

Answer

Prescribe a short course of alprazolam

Answer

Hospitalize the patient

Answer

Initiate disulfiram therapy

Answer

Prescribe a short course of duloxetine

Sleep disorders

Study Resources

Lessons

Questions

Flashcards

Lessons

Normal sleep physiology

Insomnia disorder

Sleep-related breathing disorders

Central disorders of hypersomnolence

Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders

Parasomnias

Sleep-related movement disorders

Sleep disorders related to medical conditions

Substance/medication-induced sleep disorders

Sleep hygiene and behavioral interventions

Pharmacological management of sleep disorders

Polysomnography and sleep studies

Psychiatric comorbidities with sleep disorders

Practice Questions

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About Sleep disorders for USMLE

Lessons in Sleep disorders

Master Sleep disorders