title: Outcome of patients with sleep complaints and normal polysomnograms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the outcome in patients with sleep complaints and normal polysomnograms (PSG).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PSG is used in the evaluation of persons with sleep complaints. There is a small amount of literature available on patients with sleep complaints and normal PSGs.
  
  
  METHODS
  PSGs interpreted as normal at the sleep laboratory at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center over a 3-year period were considered for inclusion. All PSG requests were screened for appropriateness. Follow-up data were obtained by structured telephone interview (within a period of 5 months of PSG) and chart review. This interview requested: (1) main sleep complaint, (2) diagnosis given by the ordering physician, (3) treatment for the sleep complaint, (4) further studies, and (5) overall satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six patients were identified with a normal PSG, and 27 (58%) were successfully contacted for the telephone interview. Of these 27 patients, 8 were men and 19 were women. Fifty-two percent of patients were not given a diagnosis by the referring physician after their normal PSG to explain their sleep symptoms. Eight patients (29%) were offered treatment for their sleep complaints despite their normal PSGs. Twenty patients (74%) reported no change in their sleep quality since the PSG. Most patients (66%) did not find the PSG helpful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients with sleep complaints and normal PSG were not given a clear diagnosis by the referring physician, and sleep complaints persist after a normal PSG. Further evaluation by a sleep specialist may be appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. odonovan@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Cormac A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rissmiller
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rinn
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: W Vaughn
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: McCall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome