Trichotillomania and non-epileptic seizures as sleep-related dissociative phenomena.
Melina Angulo-Franco, Alejandra Bush-Martínez, Alejandro Nenclares-Portocarrero, Alejandro Jiménez-Genchi
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine March 15, 2015 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.4542 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | An adult woman with childhood maltreatment history and psychiatric morbidity (major depression, trichotillomania, conversion disorder) |
| Keywords | Humans Seizures Parasomnias Dissociative disorders Trichotillomania Adult Female Sleep Convulsion Non-epileptic |
| Key findings | Video-polysomnography documented seven trichotillomania episodes and one non-epileptic seizure, all arising from unequivocal wakefulness. Nocturnal behaviors improved after long-term psychotherapy. The authors propose that nocturnal trichotillomania and non-epileptic seizures may be symptoms of a sleep-related dissociative disorder. |
Abstract
Abstract: The occurrence of non-epileptic seizures (NES) and trichotillomania during sleep is rare. We describe the case of an adult woman with a personal history of childhood maltreatment and psychiatric morbidity (major depression, trichotillomania, and conversion disorder), who was referred to the sleep unit because of nocturnal hair-pulling and psychomotor agitation during sleep. An all-night PSG recording with audiovisual monitoring documented seven episodes of trichotillomania and one NES, all of which arose from unequivocal wakefulness. Improvement of nocturnal behaviors was observed after long-term psychotherapy. This case illustrates that nocturnal trichotillomania and NES may be symptoms of a sleep-related dissociative disorder.