BRPT PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
1. What is the most likely cause of a 35-minute REM latency?: Untreated depression
2. The syndrome characterized by prolonged episodes of severe hypoxemia and
associated PaCO2 elevation that worsens during sleep is:: Obesity hypoventilation
(Obesity hypoventilation, sometimes called Pickwickian Syndrome, is a breathing disorder that attects some obese
patients. In Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome, poor breathing results in too much carbon dioxide (hypoventilation)
and too little oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia).
3. A process to decrease fear of artificial circumstances by repeated and con-
trolled exposure to a feared situation is:: Desensitization
(In polysomnography, desensitization is a common process to help patients that experience claustrophobia when
introduced to PAP therapy. By allowing a patient to experience all the sensations that they will be exposed to during a titration,
they can become more comfortable with the process and be more likely to be able to tolerate PAP and have a better chance at
becoming compliant )
4. What is the BEST tool that a physician could use to more clearly explain the
results of the sleep study and the importance of therapy to a patient?: Histogram
(The histogram is a graphical display of the sleep stages and related events displayed in a compressed fashion along a
time axis. It provides a visual that displays the relationship between the patient's sleep and respiratory events, sleep
position, oxygenation, cardiac rate and other parameters.)
5. Which of the following substances can reduce the effectiveness of PAP ther-
apy?: Alcoholic beverages
(Obstructive sleep apnea is the result of collapse of the oropharynx. Alcohol has an inhibitory ettect on the upper airway
muscle activity. Alcohol also impairs the arousal response to airway occlusion and can cause a patient's apneas to be
longer and associated with more severe desaturations. This can result in reduced ettectiveness of the optimal level of
CPAP that a patient is on. Nasal decongestant sprays, antidepressant medication and hypertensive medication do not
have an impact on PAP therapy.)
6. A patient with a history of obesity, snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness
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, is referred by their PCP for a polysomnogram. The intake questionnaire reveals
frequent naps, caffeine use through the day and evening, a variable bedtime,
and a score of 18/24 on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The patient has an overall
AHI of 4, an arousal index of 5, and a sleep efficiency of 56%. What is the MOST
LIKELY cause of excessive daytime sleepiness in this patient?: Poor sleep hygiene
(Poor sleep hygiene is the most likely contributor to excessive daytime sleepiness in this patient. Catteine is a central
nervous system stimulant that can cause issues with sleep such as insomnia. A variable bedtime also indicates poor
sleep
2/9
1. What is the most likely cause of a 35-minute REM latency?: Untreated depression
2. The syndrome characterized by prolonged episodes of severe hypoxemia and
associated PaCO2 elevation that worsens during sleep is:: Obesity hypoventilation
(Obesity hypoventilation, sometimes called Pickwickian Syndrome, is a breathing disorder that attects some obese
patients. In Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome, poor breathing results in too much carbon dioxide (hypoventilation)
and too little oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia).
3. A process to decrease fear of artificial circumstances by repeated and con-
trolled exposure to a feared situation is:: Desensitization
(In polysomnography, desensitization is a common process to help patients that experience claustrophobia when
introduced to PAP therapy. By allowing a patient to experience all the sensations that they will be exposed to during a titration,
they can become more comfortable with the process and be more likely to be able to tolerate PAP and have a better chance at
becoming compliant )
4. What is the BEST tool that a physician could use to more clearly explain the
results of the sleep study and the importance of therapy to a patient?: Histogram
(The histogram is a graphical display of the sleep stages and related events displayed in a compressed fashion along a
time axis. It provides a visual that displays the relationship between the patient's sleep and respiratory events, sleep
position, oxygenation, cardiac rate and other parameters.)
5. Which of the following substances can reduce the effectiveness of PAP ther-
apy?: Alcoholic beverages
(Obstructive sleep apnea is the result of collapse of the oropharynx. Alcohol has an inhibitory ettect on the upper airway
muscle activity. Alcohol also impairs the arousal response to airway occlusion and can cause a patient's apneas to be
longer and associated with more severe desaturations. This can result in reduced ettectiveness of the optimal level of
CPAP that a patient is on. Nasal decongestant sprays, antidepressant medication and hypertensive medication do not
have an impact on PAP therapy.)
6. A patient with a history of obesity, snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness
1/9
, is referred by their PCP for a polysomnogram. The intake questionnaire reveals
frequent naps, caffeine use through the day and evening, a variable bedtime,
and a score of 18/24 on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The patient has an overall
AHI of 4, an arousal index of 5, and a sleep efficiency of 56%. What is the MOST
LIKELY cause of excessive daytime sleepiness in this patient?: Poor sleep hygiene
(Poor sleep hygiene is the most likely contributor to excessive daytime sleepiness in this patient. Catteine is a central
nervous system stimulant that can cause issues with sleep such as insomnia. A variable bedtime also indicates poor
sleep
2/9
