APA Dictionary of Psychology

sleep medicine

Updated on 03/06/2026
an area of research and practice, recognized as a specialty of medicine, that has evolved out of and contributes to the knowledge base on sleep, including sleep physiology, circadian biology, and the pathophysiology of sleep disorders. It encompasses work from disciplines such as neurology, clinical neurophysiology, cardiology, pulmonology, psychology, psychiatry, and sleep technology. One of its subspecialties is behavioral sleep medicine.
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