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The Parasomnias

Oliviero Bruni1, Lourdes M DelRosso2, Maria Grazia Melegari1

  • 1Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, Rome 00185, Italy.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America
|November 23, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Parasomnias, common in childhood, can impact quality of life. Early recognition and management, including sleep hygiene, are key for pediatricians and child psychiatrists.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Parasomnias are common sleep disorders in children, often resolving spontaneously.
  • Diagnosis of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnias relies on clinical descriptions and can be difficult.
  • Rapid eye movement (REM) parasomnias may indicate underlying psychiatric conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of parasomnias in children.
  • To highlight diagnostic challenges and potential underlying conditions.
  • To outline initial management strategies for pediatric parasomnias.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes current knowledge on parasomnias.
  • It focuses on clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management.
  • Expert recommendations for pediatricians and child psychiatrists are discussed.

Main Results:

  • Parasomnias are prevalent in childhood, with NREM-related types posing diagnostic challenges.
  • REM-related parasomnias warrant consideration for associated psychiatric disorders.
  • Even benign parasomnias can affect a child's quality of life.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatricians and child psychiatrists need familiarity with parasomnias.
  • Initial management includes sleep hygiene, avoiding sleep deprivation, and consistent bedtimes.
  • Referral to a sleep specialist may be necessary for complex cases.

Keywords:
Confusional arousalsNREM parasomniasREM-related parasomniasSleep enuresisSleep terrorsSleepwalking

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