Chronic Assaultive Behavior Improved With Sleep Apnea Treatment

Letter to the Editor

Sir: Obstructive sleep apnea is a cessation of breathing during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep caused by collapse or blocking of the airway. Often occurring in obese, middle-aged men, sleep apnea may lead to behavioral and cognitive impairments in individuals with schizophrenia. We present the case of a male schizophrenic patient who experienced a dramatic reduction in assaultive behavior following treatment of previously unrecognized obstructive sleep apnea.