The Significance of REM Sleep on Routine EEG

The objective of this study was to report on sleep-onset REM period (SOREMP) during routine EEG and conditions associated with it at a comprehensive epilepsy program. We retrospectively reviewed all outpatient and inpatient EEGs performed at Tampa General Hospital, a comprehensive epilepsy center over a four-month period. All EEGs were reviewed by experienced board-certified epileptologists. When SOREMP was identified, the chart was reviewed to identify the most likely etiology and the associated conditions that might be contributing. A total of 449 EEGs were reviewed between August 10, 2009, and December 9, 2009. Of those, 106 were outpatient EEGs and 343 were inpatient EEGs. There were 7 EEGs with SOREMP identified, 6 from inpatient EEGs, and 1 from an outpatient EEG. Thus, SOREMP was more common in the inpatinent setting than outpatient. There is an association of SOREMP with sleep deprivation and drug withdrawal.