Which sleep disorder is primarily diagnosed through polysomnography?

Polysomnography is a comprehensive sleep study that records various physiological parameters during sleep, including brain activity, eye movements, respiratory patterns, and muscle tone. Sleep apnea is primarily diagnosed through this method because it often involves observing respiratory events, such as apneas (complete cessation of airflow) and hypopneas (partial cessation of airflow) during sleep. The data collected during a polysomnographic study allows clinicians to accurately assess the presence and severity of sleep apnea by monitoring changes in oxygen levels and respiratory effort.

To diagnose the other disorders listed, different approaches may be more effective. For example, chronic fatigue syndrome is primarily characterized by persistent fatigue and is assessed through a patient's clinical history and symptoms rather than a sleep study. Restless legs syndrome typically involves a patient's description of symptoms, which include uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an urge to move them, often assessed through patient questionnaires rather than polysomnography. Narcolepsy, while sometimes diagnosed with polysomnography, often requires additional specialized tests like the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) to measure how quickly a person falls asleep in a quiet environment and to assess daytime sleepiness.

Therefore, while polysomnography can provide valuable insights into various sleep-related issues, it is particularly essential for the diagnosis