Author(s)

Kathy Sexton-Radek^1,2

¹Behavioral Health Department, Suburban Pulmonary and Sleep Associates, Westmont, USA.
²Department of Psychology, Elmhurst University, Elmhurst, USA.

Sleep apnea is a clinical condition characterized by cessation of breathing in the sleeper due to pharyngeal airway closure. The reduction in air exchange results in decreased cerebral blood circulation with consequential behavioral deficits cognitively and emotionally. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with chronic illnesses of depression, cardiovascular disorder, obesity and diabetes mellitus. Measured cognitive behavior before and following CPAP treatment demonstrates the cognitive deficit as the effectiveness of CPAP treatment. Emotional factors related to sleep apnea diagnosis and adherence to treatment are facilitated in patients with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) interventions by sleep specialists. This is a brief review paper that presents findings about cognition and emotional factors related to sleep apnea. This is a brief review paper.

OSA, Sleep Apnea, Sleepiness, Executive Functioning, Reactive Depression, Death Anxiety, Compliance, Sleep, Intellectual Ability

Sexton-Radek, K. (2023) Cognitive and Emotional Factors Related to Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnoses: A Brief Review. Health, 15, 944-953. doi: 10.4236/health.2023.159063.