Abstract
Contemporary knowledge of etiology and pathogenesis of mental disorders, together with the development of sleeping medications, have lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the treatment of sleep disturbances and mental disorders. They are the most frequent problems to encounter in the outpatient departments of GPs.
They are often a part or consequence of a mental disorder which has not been found yet or has not been pharmacologically treated. The effects of psychopharmaceuticals or their interaction with other drugs may have an essential impact on the treatment of somatic or mental disorders.
Complex treatment of a mental disorder may lead to abating the sleep disturbances and vice versa. Careful diagnostics and treatment of sleep disturbances may have a beneficial effect on the treatment of mental disorder.