Adapting a patient to an airway pressure support therapy is disclosed. An initial prescription pressure level is derived from a respiratory disturbance index diagnosis. A pressure ramping slope is generated from the initial prescription pressure level and a received initial pressure level. Increasing levels of pressure are delivered to the patient as defined by the pressure ramping slope. The pressure ramping slope is adjusted based upon derived usage duration trends, and the prescription pressure level is adjusted based upon measured apnea/hypopnea index variations resulting from the delivered increasing levels of pressure to the patient.