This protocol applies to patients with post COVID-19 condition (long COVID) who present with a concurrent sleep disorder. Sleep disturbance in this setting may be shaped by multiple contributing factors — behavioural habits, substance use, the sleep environment, and identifiable underlying conditions — all of which form part of the clinical picture.
Evaluation focuses on eliminating factors that disrupt sleep and identifying causative conditions driving the disturbance — such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, pain, or anxiety — before selecting a treatment strategy.
The preferred initial intervention is a structured behavioral therapy that targets thoughts and behaviors related to sleep. The complete evidence-based regimen — including sequencing, additional strategies, and the full decision pathway — is available in the protocol.