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Recommended protocols for the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test in adults: guidance from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

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Abstract

This article updates the American Academy of Sleep Medicine protocols for the administration of the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine commissioned a task force of clinical experts in sleep medicine to review published literature on the performance of these tests since the publication of the 2005 American Academy of Sleep Medicine practice parameter paper. Although no evidence-based changes to the protocols were warranted, the task force made several changes based on consensus. These changes included guidance on patient preparation, medication and substance use, sleep before testing, test scheduling, optimum test conditions, and documentation. This article provides guidance to providers who order and administer the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test.

Citation:

Krahn LE, Arand DL, Avidan AY, et al. Recommended protocols for the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test in adults: guidance from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(12):2489–2498.

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Abbreviations

AASM:

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

MSL:

mean sleep latency

MSLT:

Multiple Sleep Latency Test

MWT:

Maintenance of Wakefulness Test

OSA:

obstructive sleep apnea

PAP:

positive airway pressure

PSG:

polysomnography

REM:

rapid eye movement

SOREMP:

sleep-onset rapid eye movement period

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The task force acknowledges the contributions of Raman K. Malhotra, MD, who served as a liaison to the AASM Board of Directors and provided oversight and direction to the development of this paper. The task force also acknowledges the contributions of R. Nisha Aurora, MD, MHS, and Vishesh K. Kapur, MD, MPH, to the conceptual design and editorial review of this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

    Lois E. Krahn MD & Chad M. Ruoff MD

  2. Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio, USA

    Donna L. Arand PhD

  3. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Alon Y. Avidan MD, MPH

  4. Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

    David G. Davila MD

  5. Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    William A. DeBassio MD, PhD

  6. American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Darien, Illinois, USA

    Christopher G. Harrod MS

Authors
  1. Lois E. Krahn MD
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  2. Donna L. Arand PhD
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  3. Alon Y. Avidan MD, MPH
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  4. David G. Davila MD
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  5. William A. DeBassio MD, PhD
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  6. Chad M. Ruoff MD
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  7. Christopher G. Harrod MS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lois E. Krahn MD.

Additional information

Address correspondence to: Lois E. Krahn, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85259; Email: krahn.lois@mayo.edu

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Krahn, L., Arand, D., Avidan, A. et al. Recommended protocols for the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test in adults: guidance from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med 17, 2489–2498 (2021). https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.9620

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