Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTypesNon-REM ParasomniasOther ParasomniasTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Types

Non-REM Parasomnias

Other Parasomnias

Treatment

Coping

Close

Parasomnias is a term used to identify a group of unusual and undesirable experiences and behaviors people experience in their sleep. They are also known as disruptive sleep disorders.

They could occur just as you are about to fall asleep, while you are sleeping, or any other periods between when you are sleeping and awake. Most parasomnias are categorized into REM (rapid eye movement) or Non-REM parasomnias.

REM and Non-REM sleepare the stages of sleep your body cycles through every night—your body cycles through these stages about every 90 minutes.

Symptoms of Parasomnias

Symptoms of parasomnias vary depending on which form you have. However, some common symptoms most parasomnias share include:

Diagnosing Parasomnias

If you sleep with a partner, they can also provide your doctor with valuable insight into your symptoms and the kind of behaviors you exhibit in your sleep. AnMRI or CT scanmight be ordered to rule out the possibility of any brain damage orneurodegenerative condition.

A sleep study is the best way to make a definite diagnosis of parasomnia. In a sleep study, you’ll be asked to sleep in a lab where you’ll be closely watched.A sleep studyis also known as apolysomnogram.

Causes of Parasomnias

A variety of factors are responsible for causing parasomnias. These factors also vary from one parasomnia to the other. However, certain risk factors could make you more susceptible to developing parasomnia. They include:

Types of Parasomnias

A sleep parasomnia could occur at any point in your sleep. Sleep parasomnias are typically classified into those that happen in Non-REM sleep and those that occur in REM sleep. However, some parasomnias don’t fall under either category.

REM Parasomnias

REM sleep is one of the stages of sleep you’ll experience whenever you fall asleep.

During this stage of your sleep, your body goes through specific physical changes. Your heart rate and breathing quicken, and your eyes move rapidly underneath its lids.

The most common parasomnias you could experience when your body is in REM sleep include:

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Non-REM sleep is made up of the first three stages of sleep. During this stage of sleep, you can still be easily awakened. Parasomnias that occur during Non-REM sleep are also referred to as “Disorders of Arousal.”

The most common Non-REM parasomnias include:

Some other parasomnias can neither be classified as REM nor Non-REM parasomnias. Most parasomnias in this category are typiclly rare. This category of parasomnias typically occurs in the period between sleep and wakefulness.

Some of the most common include:

Treatment for Parasomnias

For a parasomnia to be treated, your doctor will first need to correctly identify what type of parasomnia you have and what may be causing it. Any other medical conditions you may have will also be taken into consideration.

For REM sleep parasomnias, medication such asClonazepamandmelatoninmay be prescribed to help improve the quality of your sleep. For Non-REM parasomnias, cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective form of treatment.

Coping With Parasomnias

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with REM sleep parasomnia or Non-REM sleep parasomnia, some general coping techniques can help improve the quality of your life. Some great go-to tips are:

It’s also essential to ensure that the environment you are sleeping in is safe. You should remove any dangerous or sharp objects from your bedroom and consider padding around your bed to prevent falls.

If you have a parasomnia like sleepwalking, locking windows and doors before falling asleep is encouraged.

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Northwestern Medicine.Parasomnias symptoms.

University of Michigan Health.Sleep Studies.

Cleveland Clinic.Parasomnias: causes, symptoms, types & management. April 29, 2021

Kazaglis L, Bornemann MAC. Classification of parasomnias.Curr Sleep Medicine Rep. 2016;2(2):45-52.

Schenck CH, Boeve BF, Mahowald MW.Delayed emergence of a parkinsonian disorder or dementia in 81% of older men initially diagnosed with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a 16-year update on a previously reported series.Sleep Medicine. 2013;14(8):744-748.

Sharpless BA, Barber JP.Lifetime prevalence rates of sleep paralysis: A systematic review.Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2011;15(5):311-315.

Lopez R, Jaussent I, Scholz S, Bayard S, Montplaisir J, Dauvilliers Y.Functional impairment in adult sleepwalkers: a case-control study.SLEEP. Published online March 1, 2013.

Fleetham JA, Fleming JAE.Parasomnias.CMAJ. 2014;186(8):E273-E280.

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