Derived from ‘Hypnos’, the Greek God of sleep, the word hypnosis literally means sleep. Ironically, hypnosis is not a form of sleep but a state of increased concentration and awareness. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to view the full article.

In humans, the daily pattern of consolidated sleep and wake is strongly influenced by the timing of exposure to light and darkness. In the absence of environmental time cues, cycles of sleep-wake, physiology, and gene expression continue to exhibit a near-24-hour circadian rhythm (derived from the Latin phrase “circa...

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood psychiatric disorder with various studies reporting prevalence rates of between 1.7% and 16%. The most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Diseases (DSM), fourth edition, has 2 lists of behavioural symptoms grouped under “inattentive” and “hyperactive-impulsive” symptoms,...

Sleep disorders are common afflictions in both the paediatric and adult populations, increasingly recognised as major public health concerns. Recently, the Institute of Medicine (USA) convened an ad hoc committee of experts in public health, academic and medical administration, and health sciences research to address sleep health issues, including...