The Parasomnias and Sleep Related Movement Disorders—A Look Back at Six Decades of Scientific Studies
Roger J. Broughton
Clinical and Translational Neuroscience March 24, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/ctn6010003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Parasomnias Bedwetting Sleepwalking Sleep terrors Confusional arousals Nocturnal anxiety attacks |
| Key findings | The article provides a comprehensive personal survey of major parasomnias, describing their clinical presentation, investigation, physiopathogenesis, and treatment. It groups the four slow-wave sleep arousal parasomnias (enuresis nocturna, somnambulism, sleep terrors, and confusional arousals) and covers numerous other parasomnias, from sleep paralysis and sexsomnia to REM sleep behavior disorder and sleep-related epileptic seizures. The author also notes interest in possible links between sleep/wake states and creativity. |
Abstract
The objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive personal survey of all the major parasomnias with coverage of their clinical presentation, investigation, physiopathogenesis and treatment. These include the four major members of the slow-wave sleep arousal parasomnias which are enuresis nocturna (bedwetting), somnambulism (sleepwalking), sleep terrors (pavor nocturnus in children, incubus attacks in adults) and confusional arousals (sleep drunkenness). Other parasomnias covered are sleep-related aggression, hypnagogic and hypnopompic terrifying hallucinations, REM sleep terrifying dreams, nocturnal anxiety attacks, sleep paralysis, sleep talking (somniloquy), sexsomnia, REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), nocturnal paroxysmal dystonia, sleep starts (hypnic jerks), jactatio capitis nocturna (head and total body rocking), periodic limb movement disorder (PLMs), hypnagogic foot tremor, restless leg syndrome (Ekbom syndrome), exploding head syndrome, excessive fragmentary myoclonus, nocturnal cramps, and sleep-related epileptic seizures. There is interest in the possibility of relationships between sleep/wake states and creativity.