Test Your Knowledge

Preparing questions in advance can help patients to have more meaningful discussions with their physicians regarding their conditions. Patients may wish to ask their doctor the following questions related to sleep and mental illness:

1. What is causing my sleep difficulties?
   
   
2. Do you suspect that my sleep problems are related to a mental illness?
   
   
3. What type of mental illness do you suspect I have?
   
   
4. How will you diagnose my mental illness?
   
   
5. Do I have to prepare in any special way for the diagnostic tests?
   
   
6. What are my treatment options?
   
   
7. What are the side effects of these treatments?
   
   
8. How soon after beginning treatment will I see improvement in my sleep?
   
   
9. What happens if many of my symptoms improve, but my sleep problems remain?
   
   
10. Are there other steps I can take to improve the quality of my sleep?