Excessive daytime sleepiness in psychiatry: a relevant focus for clinical attention and treatment?

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a feature of many general medical disorders and is associated with significant impairment in function and well-being. It has, however, received little attention in psychiatry although it may be a common and clinically important problem. The opinions of two expert groups, and a survey of the literature, were used to form views about the prevalence and clinical significance of excessive sleepiness in psychiatric populations. Issues relating to pharmacological treatment were also considered. Despite a scant evidence base, the conclusions are that excessive sleepiness may be a common and significant problem, and potentially amenable to treatment. However, clinician awareness is probably limited and there are opportunities for further research.