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Neurobiology of Insomnia Continuing Education Initiative to Provide Patient Level Outcomes Data Among Multidisciplinary Providers

Posted on: Thursday, 16 October 2008, 18:00 CDT

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing, The University of Kentucky Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine, and The Integrative Neurobiology Educational Alliance (INEA) today announced the launch of an ambitious continuing medical education (CME) initiative designed to educate a variety of healthcare providers on the neurobiology of insomnia. The Neurobiology of Insomnia Educational Initiative (NOI) is a multidisciplinary, performance improvement activity intended to measurably improve the management of patients with insomnia by primary care physicians, psychiatrists, pulmonologists, psychologists, neurologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, and physician assistants.

The recent focus on the role of the central nervous system (CNS) in sleep disruption has given rise to a renewed interest in the neurophysiologic characteristics of insomnia.

"Nowhere are unifying associations between brain function, stress system dysregulation and innate immune activation more apparent than in the link between insomnia and a host of interrelated conditions including depression, pain and chronic fatigue. Treating insomnia can play a central role in addressing the many comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions with which it is associated," states Charles L. Raison, MD, founding member of the INEA, and Assistant Professor and Clinical Director, Mind-Body Program Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Emory University School of Medicine.

Neurobiology is defined as the branch of biology that deals with the functional anatomy, physiology and pathology of the nervous system. Dr. Vladimir Maletic, founding member of the INEA, Clinical Associate Professor of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science at University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, and consulting associate in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Duke University states, "Mood disorders, insomnia and pain are bound by a common neurobiological 'signature': aberrant activation and persistence of bodily stress and defense systems. Having a better understanding of biological similarities, as well as relevant differences, may aid physicians in making a timely diagnosis and optimal treatment choices."

The NOI initiative will assist providers in understanding not only the symptom-based criteria for insomnia but also the other complaints and descriptors that patients may use to define their sleep hygiene as well as implementing practice performance based changes in response.

"This initiative will utilize several measures to assess its impact on minimizing conceptual gaps and barriers among providers," adds Dr. Rakesh Jain MD, MPH, founding member of the INEA and Director of Psychiatric Drug Research for R/D Clinical Research at Lake Jackson, Texas. He outlined them in the following manner:

-- Did the initiative improve the provider's knowledge of the underlying neurobiology of insomnia

-- Did the initiative result in better patient care and positive outcomes related to chronic insomnia

-- Did the initiative improve diagnostic accuracy and the selection of appropriate therapy

-- Did the initiative improve provider awareness of epidemiology and morbidity relating to insomnia

The 2005 Sleep in America poll revealed that more than 75% of American adults experience at least one symptom of a sleep disorder more than one night per week. Treatment of insomnia should reflect the etiology of the patient's insomnia and educating a diverse group of healthcare providers in the neurobiology of this disorder will help improve patient outcomes through the optimal selection of appropriate therapies and the application of an integrative care model.

"Insomnia increases with age and despite its frequency of occurrence is very often under diagnosed and under treated. This is significant because insomnia is associated and comorbid with numerous psychiatric conditions and medical conditions. As such, insomnia poses a critical public health concern and is an important disease state in terms of intervention for the clinician" according to Nancy Collop, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical Director, Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center, Division of Pulmonary / Critical Care Medicine.

About the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

In July 2008, U.S. News & World Report ranked The Johns Hopkins Hospital #1 among American hospitals for the 18th consecutive time. In 2006, the Johns Hopkins Office of CME received "Accreditation With Commendation" for 6 years, the highest ranking issued by the ACCME. For more information please visit www.hopkinscme.net.

About the Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing

The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing designs and delivers leading-edge continuing education for nurses. The Institute accesses the expertise of world-renowned faculty, researchers and educators from both The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

For more information please visit www.ijhn.jhmi.edu.

About the University of Kentucky Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine

The UK Pharmacy and Medicine Continuing Education (PMCE) Office is a joint venture between the UK Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine to manage the CE programs of each respective college. For more information please visit http://ukyce.cecentral.com/

About the Integrative Neurobiology Educational Alliance

The Integrative Neurobiology Educational Alliance's (INEA) objective is to raise awareness of the neurobiological "footprint" shared across multiple psychiatric disorders, including insomnia, mood disorders, and pain conditions.

About MJ Consulting Group, LLC:

MJ Consulting Group, LLC ("MJ") a leading educational strategy firm, identifies, develops and manages collaborative relationships with established organizations, educational partners and channels to develop communication strategies designed to address key educational gaps and needs among healthcare providers. MJ will facilitate the development and management of the initiative. For more information, please visit www.mjconsultinggroup.com.

Source: Business Wire

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