Encyclopedia of Sleep and Sleep Disorders, Second Edition
by: Michael J. Thorpy, Jan Yager
Topics include:
From School Library Journal
YA-- This excellent source on a topic that affects everyone is readable, well designed informative. Its utility as a research source, as well as its value as general interest reading, insures that it will be a frequently requested book. In addition to the well-written and clearly cited source entries, Thorpy includes excellent essay histories of sleep as a field of study. He also provides information on centers for the study of sleep and international sleep disorder classifications. A book for natural and behavioral science students.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
It is hard to determine the target audience for this bulky and expensive reference work; the 800 alphabetically arranged entries range from ordinary terms--"accident," "evening shift"--to technical jargon--"terrifying hypnagogic hallucinations" (found under "T"!). Many terms appear under "sleep" or "sleep-related," which seems redundant in a reference on sleep. Coverage is erratic--why include Parkinson's disease, but omit epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, neurology, and even autonomic nervous system? The two long introductory essays on history and psychology of sleep are unfocused and rambling and add little to the usefulness of the encyclopedia. A better bet for public libraries is Peter Hauri and Shirley Linde's lay guide No More Sleepless Nights ( LJ 5/1/90).
- Evelyn L. Mott, Palm Beach Cty. Lib., West Palm Beach, Fla.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
This encyclopedia defines more than 800 terms related to sleep and sleep disorders. Scientific, medical, and commonly recognized terms (Bedtime, Naps, Snoring) are included. Entries range in length from a sentence to several pages and cover a broad spectrum, from best ways to handle bedtime issues with children to how specific diseases impact sleep. There are short entries for significant personalities in the field and entries on the development of sleep disorder medicine, research, and treatment.
Introductory essays on the history of sleep and humans and the relationship of psychology to sleep and associated disorders provide a good background for anyone interested in the subject. Cross-references and the use of small caps to indicate a separate entry make the volume easy to use. The list of associations and organizations is international in scope, and there is an extensive state-by-state directory of American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) sleep centers and laboratories. Complete contact information, including contact names and Web addresses, is provided. Other appendixes cover classification of sleep disorders.
This is the second edition of a work first published in 1990. It has been updated and revised to "reflect the current science and understanding of sleep disorders." There is new information on the advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of sleep and wakefulness as well as new diagnostic tools and treatment procedures. Revised articles reflect current information in the areas of sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy. Resource lists and the bibliography have been updated, although only seven titles in the bibliography were published after 1990.
There is enough important new information to warrant considering this edition. The encyclopedia will be useful to upper-level students, especially those in health programs. Public, academic, and medical libraries will certainly want to include it in their collections.
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