Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Behavioral parasomnias

  • Published:
Current Psychiatry Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sleep is not a static state. During the sleep period, physiologic changes occur throughout the body and brain. This complex, dynamic process can, at times, result in episodes of unusual or undesirable behaviors. These phenomena are called parasomnias. The accurate diagnosis of this group of treatable disorders is important, because they can have a negative impact on sleep, health, and social function. In addition, some of the parasomnias may provide clues to the presence of other underlying pathologic conditions. The parasomnias may be categorized in more than one way, but any attempt to classify such a diverse collection of entities is likely to be somewhat arbitrary. This article discusses the parasomnias according to the classification of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, with emphasis on those characterized by observable behavior. As the understanding of these disorders (and sleep, in general) continues to deepen, new entities and schemes of classification may emerge.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Revised: Diagnostic and Coding Manual. Rochester: American Sleep Disorders Association; 1997.

  2. Naylor MW, Aldrich MS: The distribution of confusional arousals across sleep stages and time of night in children and adolescents with sleep terrors. Sleep Res 1991, 20:308.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Broughton RJ: NREM arousal parasomnias. In Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine, edn 3. Edited by Kryger MH, Roth T, Dement WC. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2000:693. A good article.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Klackenberg G: Somnambulism in childhood: prevalence, course, and behavioral correlations. Acta Paediatr Scand 1982, 71:495.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ohayon MM, Guilleminault C, Priest RG: Night terrors, sleepwalking, and confusional arousals in the general population: their frequency and relationship to other sleep and mental disorders. J Clin Psychiatry 1999, 60:267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kales A, Soldatos CR, Bixler EO, et al.: Hereditary factors in sleep walking and night terrors. Br J Psychiatry 1980, 137:111.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schenck CH, Mahowald MW: A polysomnographically documented case of adult somnambulism with long-distance automobile driving and frequent nocturnal violence: parasomnia with continuing danger as a non-insane automatism? Sleep 1995, 18:765.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rosen G, Mahowald MW, Ferber R: Sleepwalking, confusional arousals, and sleep terrors in the child. In Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine in the Child. Edited by Ferber R, Kryger MH. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1995:99.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hurwitz TD, Mahowald MW, Schenk CH, et al.: A retrospective outcome study and review of hypnosis as treatment of adults with sleepwalking and sleep terror. J Nerv Ment Dis 1991, 179:228.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Tobin J: Treatment of somnambulism with anticipatory awakening. J Pediatr 1993, 122:426.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Klackenberg G: Rhythmic movements in infancy and early childhood. Acta Paediatr Scand 1971, 224(suppl):74.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mahowald MW, Thorpy MJ: Nonarousal parasomnias in the child. In Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine in the Child. Edited by Ferber R, Kryger MH. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1995:115.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Thorpy MJ: Rhythmic movement disorder. In Handbook of Sleep Disorders. New York: Mark Dekker; 1990:609.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Arkin AM, Toth MF, Baker J, Hastey JM: The frequency of sleep talking in the laboratory among chronic sleep talkers and good dream recallers. J Nerv Ment Dis 1970, 151:369.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hartmann E: A preliminary study of the personality of the nightmare sufferer: relationship to schizophrenia and creativity. Am J Psychiatry 1987, 136:794.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kales A, Soldatos CR, Caldwell AB, et al.: Nightmares: clinical characteristics and personality patterns. Am J Psychiatry 1980, 137:1197.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Schenck CH, Bundlie SR, Ettinger MC, et al.: Chronic behavior disorders of human REM sleep: a new category of parasomnia. Sleep 1986, 9:293.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Mahowald MW, Schenck CH: REM sleep parasomnias. In Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine, edn 3. Edited by Kryger MH, Roth T, Dement WC. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2000:724. An important review.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Schenck CH, Mahowald MW: Motor dyscontrol in narcolepsy: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep without atonia and REM sleep behavior disorder. Ann Neurol 1992, 32:3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Schenck CH, Bundlie SR, Mahowald MW: Delayed emergence of a parkinsonian disorder in 38% of 29 older men initially diagnosed with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Neurology 1996, 46:388.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Schenck CH, Mahowald MW: A parasomnia overlap disorder involving sleepwalking, sleep terrors, and REM sleep behavior disorder: report in 33 polysomnographically confirmed cases. Sleep 1997, 20:972.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Schenck CH, Mahowald MW: Polysomnographic, neurologic, psychiatric, and clinical outcome report on 70 consecutive cases with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD): sustained clonazepam efficacy in 89.5% of 57 treated patients. Cleve Clin J Med 1990, 57(suppl):S9.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Broughton RJ: Behavioral parasomnias. In Sleep Disorders Medicine: Basic Science, Technical Considerations, and Clinical Aspects, edn 2. Edited by Chokroverty S. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lugaresi E, Cirignotta F: Hypnogenic paroxysmal dystonia: epileptic seizure or a new syndrome? Sleep 1981, 4:129.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Center, 401 Quarry Road, Suite 3301, 94305, Stanford, CA, USA

    Stephen Brooks MD & Clete A. Kushida MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Stephen Brooks MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Clete A. Kushida MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brooks, S., Kushida, C.A. Behavioral parasomnias. Curr Psychiatry Rep 4, 363–367 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-002-0084-8

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-002-0084-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation