HMC Opens Sleep Health Clinic At Hamad General Hospital

Doha, Qatar: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has opened the Sleep Health Clinic at Hamad General Hospital, a new specialized service dedicated to the assessment and treatment of non-respiratory sleep disorders in adults.

The clinic brings together the specialties of pulmonary and sleep medicine and psychiatry, and aims to provide comprehensive assessment of cases, identify factors associated with sleep disorders, and develop appropriate treatment plans to help patients improve their sleep, health, and quality of life.

The clinic provides services for adults experiencing sleep disorders, including acute and chronic insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, circadian rhythm disorders, and abnormal behaviors during sleep. Standard sleep assessments, such as home sleep studies and overnight polysomnography are used, when needed, in addition to internationally validated assessment tools and questionnaires.

The clinic provides a comprehensive assessment of patients, including identifying the nature and patterns of the sleep disorder and its impact on daytime activities, as well as reviewing the patient's medical and psychological history, medications, and other factors that may affect sleep. Some cases may require specialized sleep tests based on the physician's assessment and the patient's needs, helping to improve their sleep, health, and quality of life.

The clinic also provides non-pharmacological treatment options, including cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, guidance on sleep habits, and regulating sleep and wake-up times, in addition to medication, when needed, according to the patient's condition and medical assessment. The clinic receives patients referred from some medical specialties and psychiatric clinics at HMC.

Sleep Medicine Consultant at HMC, Dr. Aisha Al Adhab said,“The Sleep Health Clinic is part of the HMC's sleep medicine services, which include specialized services for the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders according to the needs of patients. The clinic provides specialized care for patients whose sleep problems are intertwined with their psychological condition. We assess the patient's condition from all physical, psychological, and behavioral aspects, and specialised assessments helps us identify the cause and select the most appropriate intervention for the patient.”

She noted that the treatment of sleep disorders does not always rely on medication, explaining that some cases benefit from non-pharmacological interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, regulating sleep and wake-up times, improving sleep habits, and making appropriate lifestyle modifications.

Consultant in Psychiatry at HMC, Dr. Ahmad Al Shahrani said,“The relationship between stress and anxiety and sleep difficulties is reciprocal; psychological stress can lead to insomnia, while ongoing sleep problems can increase symptoms of stress and mood fluctuations. When a sleep disorder occurs alongside a psychological condition, addressing each separately may not be sufficient in some cases. Therefore, collaboration between sleep medicine and psychiatry allows us to look at the patient's condition comprehensively, understand the relationship between psychological symptoms and sleep disorders, and develop a treatment plan that is better suited to the patient's needs.”

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