Psychiatric conditions like insomnia and depression are often closely tied to sleep disorders. In his private practice in the Park Slope area in Brooklyn, New York, and the Westwood, Brentwood, and Beverly Hills areas in Los Angeles, California, experienced board-certified psychiatrist Jacob Leivent, MD, offers compassionate support for sleep disorders and their connected conditions. Dr. Leivent offers medication management and psychotherapy via telehealth, so you can take the first step toward more restful nights by calling the office or scheduling online now.
request an appointmentWhat are sleep disorders?
Sleep disorders are medical conditions that cause you trouble with getting quality sleep. The most common sleep disorder is insomnia. It causes difficulty falling asleep, restless sleep, or both.
About one-third of American adults experience insomnia, but only around 10% have symptoms severe enough to be diagnosed with a sleep disorder.
Are sleep disorders and psychiatric disorders connected?
About half of people with insomnia have a psychiatric disorder. For example, depression and anxiety are both very common among people with insomnia.
When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain can’t function well. Naturally, that can influence your mood. It may lead to or worsen existing depression or anxiety. But you can also have depression or anxiety and experience sleep problems as an effect of that disorder.
No matter which problem comes first, one thing is certain: Sleep disorders can have a very negative effect on your quality of life if they’re not treated.
How do psychiatrists diagnose sleep disorders?
The first step is finding the root cause of the sleep problem. Dr. Leivent asks many questions during your evaluation and reviews your medical history as well.
He may recommend seeing another specialist for evaluation and testing — a sleep study, for example. In some cases, patients have already received a sleep disorder diagnosis from another specialist, and they come to Dr. Leivent for psychiatric support.
Sleep disorders are diagnosed only when the sleep issues happen three or more nights weekly for three months or longer.
How do psychiatrists treat sleep disorders?
After you’re diagnosed with a sleep disorder, Dr. Leivent works with you to create a personalized psychiatric treatment plan.
Medication management is an important part of managing psychiatric disorders. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and other drugs restore balance in the brain. This can help with your mood, and your sleep improves alongside your mental health.
Dr. Leivent also provides psychotherapy, which can help you deal with the emotional effects of your disorder and ease your depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
All psychiatric care is provided through telehealth, so you don’t need to leave home to get customized sleep disorder care in most cases. You get Dr. Leivent’s phone number and email address so you can get in touch fast.
Are you having trouble with your sleep? Call Jacob Leivent, MD, or book your appointment online now.