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Related Experiment Videos

Episodic sleep disorders (parasomnias).

A Vela-Bueno1, C R Soldatos

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.

Seminars in Neurology
|September 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary

Parasomnias, like sleepwalking and night terrors, are episodic sleep disorders often seen in childhood. Differentiating them from nightmares involves considering timing, arousal, and memory of the event.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Parasomnias are episodic sleep disorders including sleepwalking, night terrors, and nightmares.
  • These conditions are more common in childhood, often linked to developmental factors.
  • In adults, delayed onset or persistent parasomnias may be associated with psychopathologic states.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate between parasomnias, specifically nightmares and night terrors.
  • To highlight the pathophysiologic continuum between sleepwalking and night terrors.
  • To emphasize the importance of clinical evaluation and safety measures.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical evaluation in an office setting.
  • Information gathering from patients and observers.
  • Differentiation based on occurrence timing, arousal, and recall.

Main Results:

  • Sleepwalking and night terrors share pathophysiologic similarities, occurring during slow-wave sleep early in the night.
  • Nightmares are associated with REM sleep and can occur anytime.
  • Night terrors and sleepwalking involve impaired arousal and amnesia, unlike nightmares which have vivid recall.

Conclusions:

  • Sleepwalking and night terrors are disorders of impaired arousal on a pathophysiologic continuum.
  • Differentiating nightmares from night terrors is crucial for assessment and management.
  • Safety measures are a key management strategy for sleepwalking and night terrors.

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