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Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...

Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview

Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview

The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic symptoms in all...

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
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Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking

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Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, involves individuals engaging in activities ranging from simple walking to more complex behaviors such as driving. Sleepwalking typically occurs during the slow-wave sleep stages 3 and 4 early in the night when the person is not dreaming, contradicting the myth that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice

A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice

Published on: September 22, 2020

Narcolepsy and psychotic states--a case report.

Yuval Melamed¹, Yael Daliahu, Diana Paleacu

¹Lev Hasharon Mental Health Center, Netanya, Israel. ymelamed@post.tau.ac.il

The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences

|September 5, 2009

Summary

This case report highlights an unusual presentation of narcolepsy with cataplexy and psychosis. A combination of stimulant, SSRI, and antipsychotic medication effectively managed the patient's complex symptoms.

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A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice

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Published on: December 22, 2016

Area of Science:

Neurology
Psychiatry
Sleep Medicine

Background:

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting sleep-wake cycles, characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.
This case involves a young woman with narcolepsy and cataplexy who also experienced auditory hallucinations, necessitating psychiatric referral.

Observation:

The patient presented with involuntary limb movements, excessive daytime sleepiness, and loss of muscle tone, leading to a narcolepsy diagnosis.
Auditory hallucinations and impaired reality judgment prompted psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
Initial treatment with methylphenidate, risperidone, and paroxetine was followed by an exacerbation.

Findings:

A revised pharmacotherapy regimen including risperidone and modafinil resulted in significant clinical improvement.
This suggests a potential therapeutic benefit of combining psychostimulants, SSRIs, and antipsychotics for narcolepsy with cataplexy and psychotic features.

Implications:

The findings underscore the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration between neurologists and psychiatrists in managing complex narcolepsy cases.
This case provides evidence for a combined treatment approach in narcolepsy with cataplexy and psychosis, warranting further investigation.