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Objective: This review gives an overview about the consequences of sleep deprivation (SD) on pain perception and discusses the bi-directional relation between sleep and pain., Methods: A MEDLINE research (16.7.2010) for the terms "sleep" AND "pain" AND ("sleep deprivation" OR "sleep loss" OR "sleep restriction" OR "sleep interruption") showed 177 hits. Only studies with control group or cross-over design that investigated sleep deprivation (total or partial form) as independent and pain as dependent variable were included., Results: 7 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. SD leads in 5 of 6 studies to an increase of bodily complaints measured by self rating tests and a decrease of pain inhibition. 3 of 5 studies show a decrease of mechanical or thermal pain threshold after SD., Conclusions: Not only can pain lead to sleep disruption, but SD can also reduce pain threshold. Sleep and pain might be mutually related, by shared neurotransmitter pathways. A further explanation is an influence of SD on opioid protein synthesis and / or opioid receptors. So when chronic pain and sleep disorder coexist, both conditions should be treated., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

In a prospective study all first admittances into the outpatient sleep clinics of the Bezirksklinikum Regensburg and the BKH W-ilershof within 6 months were studied. Data of 212 patients (66% men, median age 51 years, ages from 7 to 88 years) were collected and evaluated. In over 40% of the cases the symptoms had persisted for more than 5 years. The most common main diagnoses were: obstructive sleep apnea (34%), psychophysiological insomnia (21%), restless-legs-syndrome including periodic leg movement in sleep (15%) and sleeping disorders in the context of affective disorders (8.5%). After ambulatory diagnostics 56% were referred to the sleep laboratory within the same hospital, 5% were referred to other sleep laboratories, 22% were treated on an outpatient basis, 7.5% received somatic or psychiatric treatment and only 7% of the patients did not need further treatment. Therefore the function of an outpatient sleep clinic as a filter for further treatment can be proven.

In a prospective study all first admittances into the outpatient sleep clinics of the Bezirksklinikum Regensburg and the BKH Wöllershof within 6 months were studied. Data of 212 patients (66 % men, median age 51 years, ages from 7 to 88 years) were collected and evaluated. In over 40 % of the cases the symptoms had persisted for more than 5 years. The most common main diagnoses were: obstructive sleep apnea (34 %), psychophysiological insomnia (21 %), restless-legs-syndrome including periodic leg movement in sleep (15 %) and sleeping disorders in the context of affective disorders (8,5 %). After ambulatory diagnostics 56 % were referred to the sleep laboratory within the same hospital, 5 % were referred to other sleep laboratories, 22 % were treated on an outpatient basis, 7,5 % received somatic or psychiatric treatment and only 7 % of the patients did not need further treatment. Therefore the function of an outpatient sleep clinic as a filter for further treatment can be proven.