Sleep Medicine in a new rapidly evolving specialty.  The International Classification of Sleep Disorders

listed more than 84 sleep disorders.  Most of them can be treated with good outcome.  

The University Sleep Disorders Center is the first academic Sleep Disorders Center in the country and the region.  The center has been established in the late 90s and has taken a leading role in clinical service, training and research in the country.  It is a four-bed facility, which is equipped with the latest digital diagnostic systems.  We receive referrals from all parts of the country and the gulf area.  The center treats all kinds of sleep disorders in all age groups.  We have trained a number rotating psychiatry residents and seven adult and pediatric respiratory medicine fellows from different hospitals in Saudi Arabia and the gulf.  Recently, we submitted a proposal to start a sleep medicine fellowship to be the first in the country.  Additionally, we are in the process of establishing a diploma for sleep disorders technologists.  To educate the public about sleep disorders we launched an educational web site call “Sleep in health and Disease” www.sleep-sa.net

Recently, the center received an approval for a grant by KACST to establish a National Sleep Research Center of Excellence.