Sleep Health & Disorders

Department of Psychiatry Partners with Sleep Disorders Center

At the University of Maryland, the Department of Psychiatry often makes referrals to the Sleep Disorders Center. We take a holistic approach to help patients who are struggling not only with mental health issues but also with sleep issues.

The Sleep Disorders Center will work with you to resolve any sleep issue that interrupts your normal sleep patterns. They’ll help you determine what’s causing your sleep problems, and they’ll develop a personalized treatment plan to ensure you get a good night’s sleep.

We’re Here to Help: Call 410-328-5881

If you’re struggling with mental health issues, the Department of Psychiatry is available to help you evaluate and address them. Call us at 410-328-5881 to schedule a consultation.

Since we are committed to caring for you as a whole person, we will also make any referrals as needed. For example, if you are having trouble sleeping or need treatment for a sleep disorder, we would refer you the University of Maryland Sleep Disorders Center.

About Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders make it difficult or even impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Sleep deprivation can increase your fight-or-flight stress hormones, making you feel very stressed. It can also affect your concentration and ability to work, as well as your social life. Also, if left untreated, sleep disorders may result in serious conditions, including heart disease and stroke.

The sleep specialists can provide advanced treatment for sleep disorders, including:

Insomnia (trouble falling asleep and staying asleep that may be temporary or chronic)
Sleep apnea (trouble breathing while asleep)
Narcolepsy and other neurological disorders
Other sleep disorders

To determine your sleep disorder, you will meet with one of the sleep specialists and develop a treatment plan that suits your needs. Their specialists might recommend that you participate in a sleep study, which they offer at the Sleep Disorders Center.

Multidisciplinary Sleep Disorders Treatment Team

The University of Maryland Sleep Disorders Center treatment team features specialists from a broad range of medical disciplines, including pulmonology, psychiatry, and neurology. The principal team members are all on the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. They work together to provide the best possible care—for both adults and children.

What Is a Sleep Study?

A sleep study is extremely valuable for diagnosing and treating many sleep disorders, for both adults and children. The Sleep Disorders Center offers overnight sleep studies in their sleep lab to diagnose sleep-related disorders such as:

Movement disorders
Narcolepsy and other sleep disorders that cause extreme daytime tiredness
Sleep apnea
Sleep-related neurologic seizures

Each room is set up like a hotel, including a queen size bed and private bathroom with a shower. Technicians monitor your brain activity and vital signs during the night and are available if you need assistance.

Learn how to prepare for your sleep study and what to expect.

Do You Have a Sleep Disorder? Here’s What to Look For

Common signs of a sleep disorder may include:

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Frequent urination at night
High blood pressure
Irritability and moodiness
Loss of energy
Depression
Loud and irregular snoring
Morning headaches
Obesity
Poor concentration

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, please talk with your healthcare provider.

Ready to Take the First Step?

If you’re struggling with mental health issues, the Department of Psychiatry is available to help you. Call 410-328-5881.

Location
Walter P. Carter Center
701 W. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Sleep Health FAQs

Sleep is essential for preventing issues with focus, mood, and long-term neurological health. Without it, memory, concentration, and emotional regulation suffer. This increases the risks for diseases like Alzheimer’s and diabetes, and it can worsen conditions such as anxiety and depression.

The average adult benefits from 7–9 hours a night of high-quality sleep. High quality means falling asleep easily, staying asleep without frequent waking, and feeling refreshed, energized, and functional the next day. Quality sleep includes both restorative deep and REM stages in a consistent, cool, dark, and quiet environment. Quality is as crucial as quantity; 6–7 hours of uninterrupted rest beats 8–9 hours of tossing and turning.

A full cycle of sleep is essential for overall health. All sleep stages are vital, but Deep Sleep and REM Sleep are arguably the most critical stages.

Deep Sleep handles physical repair, immune support, memory transfer, and cognitive function.

Physical Restoration: Body repairs muscles and tissues, releases growth hormone, and lowers heart rate/blood pressure.
Immune System: Strengthens immunity.
Memory: Consolidates declarative memories (facts, events).
Cognitive Function: Boosts problem-solving and creativity.

REM Sleep is crucial for emotional regulation, learning, and cognitive restoration.

Emotional Processing: Helps manage mood and stress.
Cognitive Function: Essential for learning, processing new information, and consolidating procedural memories (skills).
Brain Activity: Brain activity is high, similar to wakefulness, while the body is temporarily paralyzed.

Go to bed and wake up at consistent times.
Keep your room cool, dark, and quiet.
Use your bed for sleep and sex only. Refrain from eating or watching TV while lying in bed.
Avoid cigarettes and caffeine one hour before bed. Both are stimulants and can interfere with sleep.
Avoid alcohol 4–6 hours before bedtime. Alcohol is a sedative, so it may feel like it helps you fall asleep, but it stays in the body for a very short time and leads to night awakening that disrupts your sleep cycle.
Avoid electronics with blue light one hour before bed. Cell phones, computers, TVs, and tablets all cause increased stimulation and disrupt the initiation of sleep.
Do not eat a big meal within 2 hours of going to bed. Your brain needs to focus on sleeping, not digestion.
Establish a regular exercise program averaging 150 minutes a week. This promotes physical and emotional wellbeing and helps with sleep.
If you need a nap, keep it SHORT, no longer than 20–30 minutes. Otherwise, your need for sleep at night is diminished and sleep becomes difficult.
Create bedtime rituals that are calming and relaxing to help transition into restful sleep.
Get light in the morning to facilitate the sleep-wake cycle.