Narcolepsy and hallucinations in the spectrum of its manifestations. Clinical сase
V. N. Grigoryeva, O. D. Elshina, П. Н. Николаев, В. В. Годован
Clinical review for general practice April 26, 2025 DOI: 10.47407/kr2025.6.4.00594 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 22-year-old man with narcolepsy type 1 |
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Narcolepsy Cataplexy Context archaeology Disease Sleep disorder Clinical diagnosis Pediatrics |
| Key findings | Long-term sleep-wake disorders associated with computer game addiction and emotional stress preceded and provoked narcolepsy type 1 in a young man, who avoided care due to fear of stigma from hallucinations. |
Abstract
Narcolepsy is a rare chronic disorder characterized by impaired regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, which significantly worsens the quality of life of patients but is often diagnosed with considerable delay. Increasing physician awareness of this pathology can contribute to its earlier diagnosis and therapy optimization. A description and discussion of a clinical case of narcolepsy type 1 in a 22-year-old man. The development of narcolepsy type 1 in the patient was preceded by long-term sleep-wake disorders associated with addiction to computer games, and that the clinical manifestations of narcolepsy type 1 was provoked by emotional stress. The patient eventually developed all the classic signs of narcolepsy type 1, including visual, tactile, and auditory hallucinations upon awakening. Although the patient's quality of life had deteriorated dramatically, he did not seek medical attention for over a year, fearing that he would be considered mentally ill because of hallucinations. After the diagnosis, therapy led to rapid and significant improvement in the patient's condition. In the context of the clinical case, current pathogenic concepts of narcolepsy and its clinical manifestations are discussed. Particular attention is paid to hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations and their differences from 'daytime hallucinations,' which is important for preventing the stigmatization of patients as 'mentally ill' individuals. The diagnostic criteria update for narcolepsy type 1, that was made in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Third Edition, Text Revision of 2023, is provided and the treatment of this disease is discussed.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecstasy (MDMA) dependence Individuals meeting criteria for MDMA dependence | 1999 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Potential Human Neurotoxicity of MDMA (‘Ecstasy’): Subjective Self-Reports, Evidence from an Italian Drug Addiction Centre and Clinical Case Studies Polydrug consumers attending a Public Health Addiction Treatment Unit in Italy | 2000 | Review and clinical case series | |
| A case report SPECT study and theoretical rationale for the sequential administration of ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. 31-year-old male military veteran with moderate alcohol use disorder | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
| LSD Overdoses: Three Case Reports Three individuals who experienced accidental LSD overdose | 2020 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Remission of Severe Opioid Use Disorder with Ibogaine: A Case Report. 37-year-old female with severe opioid use disorder | 2016 | Case study | n = 1 |