Bio

Nnamdi Orakpo's path to becoming a bilingual Sleep Medicine Psychiatrist & Interventional Psychiatrist was far from conventional. Originally, he was focused on a professional basketball career in Australia and New Zealand. However, his father's guidance led him to pursue higher education.

At the University of North Texas, Dr. Orakpo completed a doctorate in Gerontology before attending medical school in Mexico and completing his residency in Psychiatry at Garnet Health Medical Center in New York. He graduated from Sleep Medicine fellowship training at Stanford University, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Sleep Medicine in Sleep Medicine (2023), where he is currently teaching as a Clinician Educator.

Dr. Orakpo has published numerous articles in SLEEP, Frontiers Journal of Psychiatry, Frontiers Journal of Human Neuroscience, and has collaborated with Stanford University colleagues on a textbook on clinical sleep medicine, where he authored the chapters on chronic insomnia, isolated sleep paralysis, sleep enuresis, sleep related eating disorder, sexsomnia, and exploding head syndrome. His research and clinical practice have centered around sleep medicine. He conducted a pioneering study on using Virtual Reality Neurofeedback as a treatment for chronic pain and insomnia. This work was supported by an institutional grant and has contributed to the field of sleep medicine.

Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Orakpo is an active researcher and educator. He has published articles in several academic journals and co-authored a textbook on clinical sleep medicine. He is also a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the California Sleep Society.

Clinical Focus

  • Psychiatry

Academic Appointments

Professional Education

  • Fellowship: Stanford University Sleep Medicine Fellowship (2023) CA
  • Residency: Garnet Health Medical Center Psychiatry Residency Program (2022) NY
  • Medical Education: Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara (2016) Mexico
  • MD, Universidad Autonoma de Gauadalajara - Mexico, Medicine and Surgery (2016)
  • PhD, University of North Texas - Denton, TX, Biomedical Gerontology - Oncology (Prostate Cancer) (2011)
  • BS, University of North Texas - Denton, TX, Applied Gerontology; Minor: Degrees Psychology and PreMed/PreOptometry (2005)

Community and International Work

  • Building Sustainable Communities, Zacatecas and Jalisco

    Topic

    Sustainable Community Building

    Partnering Organization(s)

    Future Without Poverty

    Populations Served

    Rural Jalisco and Zacatecas, Mexico

    Location

    International

    Ongoing Project

    Yes

    Opportunities for Student Involvement

    Yes

Contact

  • Academic
    norakpo@stanford.edu
    University - Staff Department: Psych/Sleep Medicine Position: Clinical Assistant Professor
    • 450 Broadway St # 2
    • Redwood City,  California  94063-3132 
    University - Affiliate Department: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Position: Clinical Assistant Professor of Sleep Medicine
    • 450 Broadway St # 2
    • Redwood City,  California  94063-3132 
  • Clinical (Primary)  Comprehensive Psychiatric Services 3100 Oak Rd Ste 270 Walnut Creek, CA 94597 (925) 944-9709 (fax)

Additional Clinical Info

Additional Info

Links

Research Interests

  • Brain and Learning Sciences
  • Diversity and Identity
  • Psychology
  • Race and Ethnicity
  • Technology and Education

Graduate and Fellowship Programs

  • Sleep Medicine (Fellowship Program)

All Publications

  • Does Virtual Reality Feedback at Infra-Low Frequency Improve Centralized Pain With Comorbid Insomnia While Mitigating Risks for Sedative Use Disorder?: A Case Report. Frontiers in human neuroscience Orakpo, N., Yuan, C., Olukitibi, O., Burdette, J., Arrington, K. 2022; 16: 915376

    Abstract

    This case report concerns a patient with clinically diagnosed moderate-severe insomnia secondary to chronic lower back pain and sciatica, previously treated with hydrocodone, naproxen, cyclobenzaprine and nightly diazepam. He underwent a trial of 20 sessions of virtual reality neurofeedback therapy (VR-NFB) at infra-low frequency, and by the end of 20 sessions achieved sustained analgesia and consequently, a complete resolution of his pain-related insomnia. Follow-up at 1 year confirmed his improvements were sustained, and he maintained his abstinence from sedatives, as observed on the Prescription Monitoring Program for controlled substances. This case highlights the importance of understanding chronic pain and its connection with restorative sleep: incorporating endogenous neuromodulation in behavioral sleep medicine helped to diminish the risk of benzodiazepine use disorder. This may be the first case of complete resolution of chronic pain with comorbid insomnia after treatment with VR-NFB at the infra-low frequency.

    View details for DOI 10.3389/fnhum.2022.915376

    View details for PubMedID 35664347

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9158522

  • Case Report: Virtual Reality Neurofeedback Therapy as a Novel Modality for Sustained Analgesia in Centralized Pain Syndromes. Frontiers in psychiatry Orakpo, N., Vieux, U., Castro-Nuñez, C. 2021; 12: 660105

    Abstract

    Neurofeedback (NFB) Therapy is a form of biofeedback, using the electroencephalogram (EEG) that has been in use since the 1970s, serving as a non-pharmacological intervention for epilepsy and psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, post-concussive syndrome, and now, centralized pain. Chronic pain can increase neuronal activity and eventually causes poor modulation of pain messages. With the emergence of Virtual Reality (VR) in acute pain management, and the contraindications of opioids in chronic pain, applying novel biotechnologies seems like the next frontier in multimodal pain management. In this study, the VR and NFB technologies were fused together (VR-NFB) and used as a novel treatment modality for a 55-year-old woman who suffered from chronic pain secondary to spondylolisthesis with cervical, thoracic, and lumbar disc herniations after a motor vehicle accident with comorbid depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and difficulty with activities of daily living, and inability to participate in physical therapy. Our case reports on the sustained analgesia achieved for 1 year after a trial of VR-NFB, and the usefulness of neuromodulation in centralized pain syndromes.

    View details for DOI 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.660105

    View details for PubMedID 33959057

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8093562

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5365-3692