A Nationwide Cohort Study of Parasomnias Among Adolescents.

Objective: To elucidate the incidence rates and predictive factors for parasomnias (disorders of arousal, nightmare, and sleep paralysis) in adolescents.Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of high school students. In 2010, we conducted a baseline survey of first-year students enrolled in randomly selected Japanese schools (10 junior high schools and 14 senior high schools); 2 years later, a follow-up survey of the same participants was conducted. A self-administered questionnaire inquiring about parasomnias and lifestyles was provided to the students for both surveys. The incidence of new onset of each parasomnia was determined based on the longitudinal survey data obtained at 2 timepoints (ie, baseline and follow-up), separately for the junior and senior high-school students. Moreover, we performed multivariate analyses to identify the predictive factors for new onset of each parasomnia.Results: 776 junior high school students and 2,697 senior high school students participated in both surveys (total response rate: 61.1%). The incidence rates of disorders of arousal, nightmares, and sleep paralysis during the observation period were 14.0%, 16.2%, and 3.3%, respectively, among junior high school students, and 15.1%, 27.8%, and 6.8%, respectively, among senior high school students. The predictive factors (adjusted odds ratio, P value) for new onset of disorders of arousal were female sex (1.38, .009) and sleep duration of less than 5 hours (1.95, .001). The predictive factors for onset of nightmares were female sex (1.82, < .001), enrollment in senior high school (vs junior high school) (2.14, < .001), poor subjective sleep quality (1.60, .010), and spending less than 2 hours studying after school hours (1.64, .027). The predictive factors for new onset of sleep paralysis were enrollment in senior high school (vs junior high school) (2.39, .002) and poor mental health status (1.98, < .001).Conclusions: Our study results suggest that sleep status, lifestyle, and mental health are predictive factors for new onset of parasomnias in adolescents. These should be key areas of focus in school health services.

Parasomnia overlap disorder: a distinct pathophysiologic entity or a variant of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder? A case series.

BACKGROUND: Parasomnia overlap disorder (POD) currently is classified by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Second Edition (ICSD-2) as a variant of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and therefore its diagnosis also implies counseling the patients on the increased risk for developing neurodegenerative disorders. POD pathophysiology is not clear to date. METHODS: The authors report 5 cases of POD, review the literature, and analyze previously published cases of POD. RESULTS: In all 5 reported cases sleep-related activity was clearly demonstrated, though the RBD component was mild or incidentally discovered. None of the patients had Parkinsonian clinical features. Based on ICSD-2 criteria, there are 139 more POD cases reported in the literature and 69. 2% are idiopathic. The POD patients had an earlier age of onset than the patients with RBD. The RBD component was milder than the disorder of arousal (DOA) in most cases. Recently an updated classification was published, which included new categories of POD. The features mentioned above and the revised classification suggests that POD is not just a subtype of RBD. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that POD is a distinct pathophysiologic parasomnia. Further research to identify the underlying mechanism is needed. Proper counseling is necessary for patients presenting with POD at a young age of onset.

The nonrapid eye movement parasomnias: recent advances and forensic aspects.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim is to update the readership on recent advances in the diagnosis and classification of nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep parasomnias with an emphasis on recent research findings and related forensic consequences of the parasomnias. RECENT FINDINGS: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) has further refined the classification and diagnostic criteria for the parasomnias, dividing them into non-REM and REM sleep disorders. It has removed confusional arousal disorder and updated the diagnostic criteria in keeping with the evidence-base available at the time of its final drafting. New research subsequent to the final drafting of the DSM-5 has clarified certain aspects including those related to the risk factors ('triggers') for sleepwalking and the impact of sleepwalking on daytime functioning, social and occupational functioning. These new research data should be considered in the development of the next International Classification of Sleep Disorders. The new diagnostic system and research data provide further clarity for the forensic sleep medicine practitioner. SUMMARY: The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria combined with the latest research will inform both clinical and forensic sleep medicine practice and provide further impetus for evidence-based practice.

Trastornos paroxísticos no epilépticos durante el sueño / Non-epileptic paroxysmal sleep disorders

Los trastornos paroxísticos no epilépticos durante el sueño son un gran reto para el clínico. Por ello, es importante conocer las diferentes manifestaciones clínicas que permitan llevar a cabo un diagnóstico diferencial adecuado, ya que las alteraciones, sobre todo motoras en el sueño, son parte de estos trastornos. En el presente trabajo se describen las fases del sueño normal y sus características electroencefalográficas, así como datos básicos de la polisomnografía. Las confusiones, sobre todo con la epilepsia nocturna del lóbulo frontal, son frecuentes y provocan que se administren fármacos innecesarios, así como una carga emocional en los padres o cuidadores del paciente, que resulta del diagnóstico de epilepsia. Se enuncian las posibles causas de los errores de diagnóstico (AU)

Non-epileptic paroxysmal disorders during sleep are a great challenge for the clinician. It is important to know the various clinical manifestations for appropriate differential diagnosis, since alterations in sleep, mostly motor, are part of these disorders. Our paper describes the normal sleep stages and electroencephalographic characteristics and polysomnography basic data. The confusions especially with nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy are frequent and cause unnecessary drugs administered, the emotional burden of the parents or caretakers, which is the diagnosis of epilepsy. We discuss the possible causes of diagnostic errors (AU)

[Non-epileptic paroxysmal sleep disorders]. / Trastornos paroxísticos no epilépticos durante el sueño.

Non-epileptic paroxysmal disorders during sleep are a great challenge for the clinician. It is important to know the various clinical manifestations for appropriate differential diagnosis, since alterations in sleep, mostly motor, are part of these disorders. Our paper describes the normal sleep stages and electroencephalographic characteristics and polysomnography basic data. The confusions especially with nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy are frequent and cause unnecessary drugs administered, the emotional burden of the parents or caretakers, which is the diagnosis of epilepsy. We discuss the possible causes of diagnostic errors.

TITLE: Trastornos paroxisticos no epilepticos durante el sueño.Los trastornos paroxisticos no epilepticos durante el sueño son un gran reto para el clinico. Por ello, es importante conocer las diferentes manifestaciones clinicas que permitan llevar a cabo un diagnostico diferencial adecuado, ya que las alteraciones, sobre todo motoras en el sueño, son parte de estos trastornos. En el presente trabajo se describen las fases del sueño normal y sus caracteristicas electroencefalograficas, asi como datos basicos de la polisomnografia. Las confusiones, sobre todo con la epilepsia nocturna del lobulo frontal, son frecuentes y provocan que se administren farmacos innecesarios, asi como una carga emocional en los padres o cuidadores del paciente, que resulta del diagnostico de epilepsia. Se enuncian las posibles causas de los errores de diagnostico.

Defining the borders between Sleep-Related Eating Disorder and Night Eating Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Nocturnal eating is a common symptom of two clinical conditions with different pathogenesis and needing different therapeutic approaches: Sleep Related Eating Disorder (SRED) and Night Eating Syndrome (NES). The first is considered a parasomnia while the second is an eating disorder; however, the distinction between SRED and NES is still a controversial matter. The aim of this study was to better define psychological, behavioral, and polysomnographic characteristics of the two syndromes. METHODS: An eating disorders' specialist tested a group of 28 nocturnal eaters diagnosed as affected by SRED by a sleep expert, following the current criteria of the international classification of sleep disorders, to find out if any of them was affected by NES according to the criteria suggested by both sleep and eating disorders specialists during the first international meeting on Night Eating Syndrome (Minneapolis, 2009) and if they had specific psychological or polysomnographic characteristics. RESULTS: Twenty-two subjects were diagnosed to be affected by NES. They scored higher on the physical tension subscale of the Sleep Disturbance Questionnaire (SDQ) and on the mood and sleep subscale of the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), but there were no other significant differences between SRED and NES patients nor for age, Body Mass Index (BMI), or gender distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The overlap between the symptomatology and the polysomnographic characteristics of the two pathologies and the difficulty in making a differential diagnosis between NES and SRED indicate the need for an update of the diagnostic criteria for SRED, as was recently done for NES.

The parasomnias: epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnostic approach.

Parasomnias are a group of disorders exclusive to sleep and wake-to-sleep transition that encompass arousals with abnormal motor, behavioral, or sensory experiences. Sensory experiences often involve but are not limited to perceptions, dreamlike hallucinatory experiences, and autonomic symptoms. When accompanied with excessive motoric activity and other complex motor behaviors, these parasomnnias can be disruptive to the patient and bed partners. Motor behaviors may or may not be restricted to bed but can become dangerous when the subject ambulates or is agitated. The behaviors are inappropriate for the time of occurrence but may seem purposeful or goal directed. Most parasomnias are more common in children and decrease in frequency as they get older. Parasomnias have been reported in approximately 4% of the adult population.

[Parasomnias]. / Parasomnier.

BACKGROUND: Parasomnias are undesirable experiences or motoric phenomena that occur in association with sleep. We have described characteristics of parasomnia subtypes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This review is based on the authors' research and clinical experience, and articles identified by non-systematic searches of Pubmed. RESULTS: Parasomnias are categorized into disorders of arousal (non-REM sleep parasomnias), e.g. sleepwalking, sleep terrors and confusional arousals, parasomnias associated with REM sleep, e.g. nightmare disorder, REM sleep behaviour disorder and recurrent isolated sleep paralysis, and other parasomnias, e.g. sleep-related groaning, exploding head syndrome, sleep-related hallucinations and sleep-related eating disorder. Prevalences for the subtypes vary. INTERPRETATION: Most parasomnias are especially common in children. Drug treatment is seldom necessary, but may be indicated in severe cases.

Aspects of parasomnias in childhood and adolescence.

The many parasomnias now officially described often occur in young patients. They are at risk of being confused with each other if their characteristic features are not well known and if they are not carefully assessed, mainly clinically. Accurate diagnosis is essential for choice of treatment, which varies considerably for different parasomnias. These points are illustrated mainly by reference to arousal disorders (including sleepwalking and sleep terrors) and the other parasomnias, such as nightmares and sleep-related epilepsies, from which they must be distinguished.

A genetic decomposition of the association between parasomnias and dyssomnias in 8-year-old twins.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate genetic and environmental influences on parasomnias and dyssomnias and their association in 8-year-olds. DESIGN: Parents of twins completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire. SETTING: Families were primarily tested at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, England. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 300 pairs of 8-year-old twins and their parents participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sleep difficulties in children. RESULTS: Individual differences in parasomnias and dyssomnias were largely explained by genes (accounting for 50% and 71% of the variances, respectively). The rest of the variances were mainly due to nonshared environmental influences. A moderate association was found between parasomnias and dyssomnias (r = 0.42), which was mainly accounted for by genetic influences (87%). The genetic correlation between parasomnias and dyssomnias was moderate (r = 0.61). In contrast, the nonshared environmental correlation was small (r = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: The decomposition of the association between parasomnias and dyssomnias suggests that there may be different manifestations of shared underlying genetic risks for sleep problems partly dependent on nonshared environmental influence.

[Classification of sleep disorders]. / Clasificación de los trastornos del sueño.

Sleep disorders are frequent processes, both as a symptom associated with other diseases and as independent disorders. However, only in the last 4 decades has Sleep medicine gained its position among the medical specialties. In fact, it was only in these years that significant advances were obtained in the study of the etiology and treatment of these disorders. Similarly, the different classifications have been evolving over the years. First, they were based upon the clinical symptom; later on, more emphasis was given to the diseases. Finally, in 2005, the new classification was once again based on the symptoms. More than 90 disorders are listed in this latest classification, and an attempt is made to include the symptoms and the diseases of sleep, as well as those in which sleep disorders are fundamental. It is essential to have a clear idea of this complete classification of sleep disorders in order to deal with these patients appropriately.

Interobserver reliability of video recording in the diagnosis of nocturnal frontal lobe seizures.

BACKGROUND: Nocturnal frontal lobe seizures (NFLS) show one or all of the following semeiological patterns: (1) paroxysmal arousals (PA: brief and sudden recurrent motor paroxysmal behavior); (2) hyperkinetic seizures (HS: motor attacks with complex dyskinetic features); (3) asymmetric bilateral tonic seizures (ATS: motor attacks with dystonic features); (4) epileptic nocturnal wanderings (ENW: stereotyped, prolonged ambulatory behavior). OBJECTIVE: To estimate the interobserver reliability (IR) of video-recording diagnosis in patients with suspected NFLS among sleep medicine experts, epileptologists, and trainees in sleep medicine. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with suspected NFLS were included. All underwent nocturnal video-polysomnographic recording. Six doctors (three experts and three trainees) independently classified each case as "NFLS ascertained" (according to the above specified subtypes: PA, HS, ATS, ENW) or "NFLS excluded". IR was calculated by means of Kappa statistics, and interpreted according to the standard classification (0.0-0.20 = slight agreement; 0.21-0.40 = fair; 0.41-0.60 = moderate; 0.61-0.80 = substantial; 0.81-1.00 = almost perfect). RESULTS: The observed raw agreement ranged from 63% to 79% between each pair of raters; the IR ranged from "moderate" (kappa = 0.50) to "substantial" (kappa = 0.72). A major source of variance was the disagreement in distinguishing between PA and nonepileptic arousals, without differences in the level of agreement between experts and trainees. CONCLUSIONS: Among sleep experts and trainees, IR of diagnosis of NFLS, based on videotaped observation of sleep phenomena, is not satisfactory. Explicit video-polysomnographic criteria for the classification of paroxysmal sleep motor phenomena are needed.

Clasificación de los trastornos del sueño / Classification of sleep disorders

Los trastornos del sueño son una patología muy frecuente tanto aislada, propia como tal, o asociada a otros trastornos. Sin embargo, es una parte de la medicina relativamente nueva, dado que ha sido en los últimos 40 años cuando se ha trabajado realmente en ella, y se han producido los avances tanto diagnósticos como terapéuticos. Las clasificaciones de estas enfermedades han ido sufriendo cierta evolución, fijándose primero en los síntomas, y luego en las enfermedades. La nueva clasificación del 2005 vuelve a basarse en los síntomas. En ella se incluyen más de 90 enfermedades del sueño, y se intentan incluir tanto los síntomas, como las enfermedades propiamente del sueño y aquellas en las que los trastornos del sueño son fundamentales. Conocer y dominar esta completa clasificación es esencial para poder manejar adecuadamente estos pacientes

Sleep disorders are frequent processes, both as a symptom associated with other diseases and as independent disorders. However, only in the last 4 decades has Sleep medicine gained its position among the medical specialties. In fact, it was only in these years that significant advances were obtained in the study of the etiology and treatment of these disorders. Similarly, the different classifications have been evolving over the years. First, they were based upon the clinical symptom; later on, more emphasis was given to the diseases. Finally, in 2005, the new classification was once again based on the symptoms. More than 90 disorders are listed in this latest classification, and an attempt is made to include the symptoms and the diseases of sleep, as well as those in which sleep disorders are fundamental. It is essential to have a clear idea of this complete classification of sleep disorders in order to deal with these patients appropriately

9. Common causes of sleep disruption and daytime sleepiness: childhood sleep disorders II.

There are strong associations between childhood sleep disorders and behavioural, concentration and mood problems. Sleep disorders caused and maintained by behavioural factors (eg, sleep-onset association disorder) are common in young children, and have a significant impact on families. Evaluation should include a medical history, a physical, neurological and developmental examination, a description of any nocturnal events or daytime effects of the child's disturbed sleep, and a good understanding of the family situation and parental management of the child. Management involves recognising the developmental age of the child and the family dynamics, and educating and supporting families in applying behavioural techniques to establish good sleep hygiene. Children with parasomnias (eg, night terrors) also benefit from good sleep hygiene, while those with respiratory or neurological causes of sleep disturbance should be referred for specialist treatment.

Interobserver reliability of ICSD-R minimal diagnostic criteria for the parasomnias.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the interobserver reliability (IR) of the minimal diagnostic criteria for the parasomnias provided in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders Revised (ICSD-R). METHODS: Fifty consecutive subjects underwent a structured interview by three doctors based on the ICSD-R minimal criteria for the diagnosis of 13 parasomnias at any time in life. IR was calculated by Kappa statistics and interpreted according to conventional categories. RESULTS: In the group of Arousal Disorders, IR was "substantial" (kappa 0.74) for confusional arousals, "slight" (kappa 0.36) for sleepwalking, "fair" (kappa -0.02) for sleep terrors. In the group of Wake-Sleep Transition Disorders, IR was "substantial" to "almost perfect", but "moderate" for sleep starts (kappa 0.41). In the group of Parasomnias usually associated with REM Sleep, IR was "substantial" (kappa 0.69) for sleep paralysis, "moderate" (kappa 0.46) for RBD, "fair" (kappa 0.25) for nightmares. In the group of Other Parasomnias, IR was "substantial" to "almost perfect" (kappa between 0.73 and 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: When the clinical diagnosis of parasomnias is based on the ICSD-R: 1) the majority of Arousal Disorders and REM sleep parasomnias showed only a "fair" to "moderate" IR; 2) all of the other parasomnias showed a "substantial" to "almost perfect" IR. Nosological entities with unsatisfactory IR share complex motor phenomenology associated with a mental state difficult for the patient to define. The source of disagreement probably lies in the difficulty in interpreting patients' reports. For these parasomnias IR must be verified and possibly improved with training.

Episodios paroxísticos no epilépticos: concepto y clasificación / Non-epileptic paroxysmal episodes: concept and classification

Los episodios paroxísticos no epilépticos son episodios desaparición brusca e inesperada con recuperación espontánea a la normalidad. Por sus características pueden ser confundidos con crisis epilépticas lo que lleva a errores terapéuticos. Son muy frecuentes en la infancia y adolescencia por lo que los planteamientos de diagnóstico diferencial entre amigos son un problema habitual para el pediatra. La manera más práctica de clasificarlos es según los mecanismos de producción y la semiología clínica preferente. Podemos diferenciar 6 grupos: secundarios a hipoxia/anoxia cerebral, relacionados con el sueño, trastornos motores paroxísticos, trastornos psicológicos o psiquiátricos paroxísticos, migrañas y síndromes relacionados y otro grupo de misceláneas. En general corresponden a patologías benignas, autolimitadas y con recuperación espontánea, pero que pueden ser confundidas con patología grave a otros niveles: neurológico, cardiológico, digestivo, etc. La mayoría de ellos tiene una edad típica de presentación que puede facilitar su diagnóstico: espasmos de sollozo en época de lactante, etc (AU)

Paroxysmal episodes other tan epilepsy are sudden and unexpected events with spontaneous recuperation. They may be confused with epilepsy seizures, fact that makes therapeutic mistakes. These mistakes are very frequent in child-hood and adolescence and it is necessary to have a good differential diagnosis. The best classification of paroxysmal episodes other than epilepsy is based on the mechanism of production and the clinical aspects. We can differentiate between 6 groups: secondary of movement, paroxysmal psychiatric disorders, migraine relation syndromes and miscellaneous. They are benign process, limited and with spontaneous recuperation, but they get confused with serious illness. The most of this episodes have a typical age of presentation: breath holdings spells during the lactation, etc (AU)

Parasomnias.

Parasomnias are defined as unpleasant or undesirable behavioral or experiential phenomena that occur predominately or exclusively during the sleep period. Initially thought to represent a unitary phenomenon, often attributed to psychiatric disease, it is now clear that parasomnias are not a unitary phenomenon but rather are the manifestation of a wide variety of completely different conditions, most of which are diagnosable and treatable. The parasomnias may be conveniently categorized as "primary sleep parasomnias" (disorders of the sleep states per se) and "secondary sleep parasomnias" (disorders of other organ systems, which manifest themselves during sleep). The primary sleep parasomnias can be classified according to the sleep state of origin: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, non-REM (NREM) sleep, or miscellaneous (i.e., those not respecting sleep state). The secondary sleep parasomnias can be further classified by the organ system involved. The underlying pathophysiology of many parasomnias is state dissociation-the brain is partially awake and partially asleep. The result of this mixed state of being is that the brain is awake enough to perform very complex and often protracted motor and/or verbal behaviors but asleep enough not to have conscious awareness of, or responsibility for, these behaviors.