Sleep Disorders - Parasomnias
Parasomnia refers to a wide range of disruptive sleep-related events such as sleepwalking, confusion arousals, and sleep terrors. These events most often occur during sleep, and are usually infrequent and mild. However, in some people these events occur often enough and are so severe that they need medical attention.
The most common Parasomnias are Disorders of Arousal. These include:
- Confusional Arousals : These are most common in infants and toddlers, but can occur in adults. These episodes may begin with crying and thrashing around in bed. The sleeper appears to be awake, confused, and upset, but he/she resists any attempt of comfort. It is difficult to awaken a person who is having this parasomnia episode. This episode usually ends when the agitation subsides and the sleeper awakens briefly, wanting to return to sleep.
- Sleepwalking : This disorder is commonly seen in older children. It ranges from simply getting out of bed and walking around the bedroom to complex actions, such as going to another part of the house or even outdoors. A sleepwalker will sometimes speak, but is often difficult to understand.
- Sleep-related Eating : This is a rare variation of sleepwalking, and happens when a person has recurrent episodes of eating during sleep without being aware of it. This can lead to significant weight gain, and is most common in young women.
- Sleep Terrors : These are the most extreme examples of arousal disorders. This episode often begins with a "blood-curdling" scream or shout, and can produce signs of extreme terror. The person may bolt out of bed and run around the room or even out of the house. This can cause them to hurt themselves or others. Although this episode is very disturbing or frightening, the sleeper usually has no conscious awareness of it and generally does not remember it upon awakening.
Other Parasomnias include:
- Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis
- Nocturnal Seizures
- Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep Behavior Disorder
- Sleep Starts
- Teeth grinding (Bruxism)
- Rhythmic-movement Disoders
- Sleep Talking (Somniloquy)
