The abbreviations used in this training programme are listed and explained in the following table.
| 6-SMT | 6-sulfatoxymelatonin |
| AE | Adverse event |
| AFS | Ease of awakening from sleep |
| ASPS | Advanced sleep-phase syndrome |
| ATC | Anatomical therapeutic chemical name |
| AUC | Area under the curve |
| BFW | Behaviour following wakefulness |
| BP | Blood pressure |
| BWSQ | Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptom Questionnaire |
| BZD | Benzodiazepine |
| CBT | Cognitive–behavioural therapy |
| CFF | Critical flicker fusion |
| CGI | Clinical global improvement |
| Cmax | Maximum concentration |
| CNS | Central nervous system |
| CSF | Cerebrospinal fluid |
| DCSAD | Diagnostic Classification of Sleep and Arousal Disorders |
| DIMS | Disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep |
| DOES | Disorders of excessive sleep |
| DSHEA | FDA Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act |
| DSM-IV-TR | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition text revision |
| DSPS | Delayed sleep-phase syndrome |
| DWAPSO | Duration of wake prior to sleep onset |
| ECG | Electrocardiograph |
| EEG | Electroencephalograph |
| EMG | Electromyography |
| EOG | Electro-oculogram |
| F1 | First generation offspring |
| FDA | Food and Drugs Administration – US drug regulation authority |
| GP | General practitioner |
| GTS | Ease of getting to sleep |
| HCRT | Hypocretin (orexin) |
| i.p. | Intraperitoneal |
| ICD-10 | International Classification of Diseases |
| ICSD | International Classification of Sleep Disorders |
| INN | International non-proprietary name |
| IR | Immediate release |
| LD | Lethal dose |
| LED | Light emitting diodes |
| LH | Lateral hypothalamus |
| LSEQ | Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire |
| MCRT | Multiple choice reaction time |
| MDD | Major depressive disorder |
| MMSE | Mini mental state examination |
| MOP | Methoxypsoralen |
| MT | Melatonin receptor |
| NICE | National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence |
| NREM | Non-rapid eye movement |
| NTP | National toxicity program |
| OC | Outer canthi |
| OTC | Over-the-counter |
| PR | Prolonged release |
| PSG | Polysomnography |
| PSQI | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index |
| QOD | Quality of the day |
| QOL | Quality of life |
| QON | Quality of a patient’s sleep the previous night |
| QOS | Quality of sleep |
| REM | Rapid eye movement |
| SAD | Seasonal affective disorders |
| SAE | Serious adverse event |
| SCN | Suprachiasmatic nucleus |
| SEMs | Slow eye movements |
| SHQ | Sleep history/habits questionnaire |
| SSRI | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor |
| SWA | Slow wave activity |
| SWS | Slow wave sleep |
| T1/2 | Half-life |
| TCA | Tricyclic antidepressants |
| Tmax | Time to maximum concentration |
| TMN | Tuberomammillary nucleus |
| VAS | Visual analogue scale |
| VLPO | Ventrolateral preoptic nucleus |
| WASO | Wake after sleep onset |
| 'z'-drug | zolpidem, zopiclone, zaleplon |