Assignment 2: Assessing and Treating Patients with Sleep/Wake Disorders

 Sleep disorders are prevalent mental health disorders affecting 50 to 70 million adults in the united states (American Sleep Association, 2021). Insomnia is the most commonly reported sleep disorder. Insomnia results from various causes, including sleep disorders and psychiatric disorders (Levenson et al., 2015). Insomnia refers to persistent chronic dissatisfaction with sleep quality or quantity that is related to difficulty with initiating sleep, frequent night-time awakenings and difficulty returning to sleep after awakening (Levenson et al., 2015).The purpose of this paper is to make three pharmacologic decisions for the treatment of a patient presenting with a sleep disorder. Introduction The case presents a 31-year-old male who presents with complaints of insomnia. The patient reports that his insomnia has worsened over the past six months. Even though the patient states that he has had sleeping problems in the past, he states that his current situation is worse, particularly due to problems falling asleep and maintaining sleep at night. As reported by the patient, his situation has worsened, and this has prompted him to seek medical care. He also adds that his symptoms of insomnia have significantly affected his capacity to perform his job as a forklift operator. Patient-specific factors are important when assessing and treating the patient to ensure proper and informed decision-making concerning the patient's treatment. One of the significant factors is his medication history. Essentially, the patient reports that he previously used diphenhydramine to manage his symptoms of insomnia, but he does not like the way the drug makes him feel in the morning. Additionally, the patient has a history of opiate abuse, which began after breaking his ankle, and was prescribed hydrocodone (acetaminophen) for acute pain management. Another factor is that the patient has been using alcohol to help him sleep, and he takes around four bottles of beer before sleeping