The obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome occurs predominantly in men. To determine the effect of testosterone on ventilatory function and whether testosterone may play a role in the development of obstructive apnoea, we performed waking ventilatory drive studies and sleep studies in five hypogonadal men. These androgen-deficient subjects were studied both while receiving no treatment and after six weeks of testosterone replacement therapy (testosterone oenanthate 200 mg i.m. every 2 weeks). Hypoxic ventilatory drive decreased significantly, from 158 +/- 39 (mean +/- SEM) off testosterone to 88 +/- 19 on testosterone therapy (P less than 0.05). Hypercapnoeic ventilatory drive did not change significantly on testosterone. Obstructive sleep apnoea developed in one man and markedly worsened in another man in association with testosterone administration. Both of these subjects also exhibited marked decreases in oxygen saturation with the development of cardiac dysrhythmias during sleep and large increases in haematocrit. The remaining three hypogonadal men did not demonstrate significant sleep apnoea either on or off testosterone. The percentage of sleep time spent in REM sleep increased from 14 +/- 3% to 22 +/- 2% when the men were receiving testosterone (P less than 0.01), but the episodes of sleep apnoea tended to occur during non-REM sleep. We conclude that in some hypogonadal men, replacement dosages of testosterone may affect ventilatory drives and induce or worsen obstructive sleep apnoea. The obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome is a potential complication of testosterone therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Eighty-two midlife women (40-59 years) were classified as poor or good sleepers according to either self-reported sleep quality or a sleep efficiency index (SEI) criterion, for comparison of wakefulness, fragmentation and other somnographic sleep variables; as well as psychological (SCL-90) and somatic symptom distress. When classified solely by self-report, the good and poor sleeper groups did not differ on any somnographic variables but self-declared poor sleepers had higher psychological distress scores than good sleepers (p less than or equal to 0.01). When classified solely by the SEI criterion, the good and poor sleepers did not differ on psychological distress but, as expected, differed on various somnographic wakefulness as well as rapid eye movement and stage 2 sleep variables. Further analysis of four subgroups derived by combining objective and subjective, good and poor sleep scores indicated that 15% of this sample (n = 12) perceived but had no objective evidence of poor sleep, and this group scored highest in psychological distress. Only seven women perceived poor sleep in concert with demonstrating low SEI. They scored highest in menopausal symptoms but not in general psychological distress.

Internet CBT should be made available in workplaces for workers with anxiety disorders as part of a stepped care plan.

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