Hypnosis: An aid in working with patients with narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a primary neurological sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, and in a majority of patients, cataplexy, which is sudden muscle weakness brought on by strong emotion. While often thought of as an adult condition, narcolepsy can be present at any age and may occur as often as 1 in 2000 individuals. Regardless of age, its effects are far-reaching, resulting in missed school or work days, poor school or work performance and all associated ramifications. In children and young-adults, narcolepsy can masquerade for years as anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder and even bipolar disorder, thus delaying diagnosis. Most patients diagnosed with narcolepsy receive significant benefit from standard medication. In addition to medication, however, this article describes promising roles for clinical hypnosis in the care of young patients with narcolepsy, including through teaching them how to have more control over their sleepiness and the emotions that can induce cataplexy, while minimizing side effects that can occur when using narcolepsy medication.