Parasomnias

Parasomnias are undesirable physical events or experiences that occur during entry into sleep, within sleep, or during arounsals from sleep.

Parasomnias encompass abnormal sleep-related movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, dreaming, and autonomic nervous system functioning. They involve sleep-related behaviors and experiences over which there is no conscious control, and therefore, can result in injuries, sleep disruption, or adverse health and psychosocial effects which can affect the patient, the bed partner or both. Parasomnias often involve

complex, seemingly purposeful, and goal-directed behaviors which presumably are performed with some personal meaning to the individual at the time. Generally, parasomnias occur during either non-REM (light to deep) sleep or REM (dream) sleep.

PARASOMNIAS WITH NON-REM SLEEP (SLEEP STAGES 1,2,3&4)
Confusional arousals consist of confusion during and after arousals from sleep, most typically from deep sleep during the first part of the night. The patient may appear to be awake during some or most of a confusional arousal, but usually is disoriented in time and space, slow of speech and responds poorly to suggestions or commands. Repeated confusional arousals are most universal in

children before the age of 13 and become less common with age.

Sleepwalking consists of complex behaviors usually initiated during deep sleep. Episodes may include behavior such as sitting up in bed, walking, running, eating, getting dressed or even driving a car. However, coordination is poor and speech is often unintelligible.
Sleep terrors are characterized by a sudden arousal from deep sleep with a scream or cry usually accompanied by fear, although the dream content cannot usually be recalled. Generally, sleep terrors occur in children between the ages of 2 and 10 and may occur in adults, usually in response to stress.