Abnormal Sleep Behaviors
Sleep Conditions
Abnormal Sleep Behaviors
Parasomnias are disruptive sleep disorders involving abnormal movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, or dreams that occur during sleep or the transitions between sleep and wakefulness.
What Are Parasomnias?
Parasomnias are a category of sleep disorders characterized by abnormal experiences or behaviors that occur during sleep. They can arise from non-REM sleep, REM sleep, or the transitions between sleep and wakefulness. While some parasomnias are more common in children and tend to resolve with age, others occur in adults and may require evaluation and management.
Parasomnias can be distressing for the affected person and their household, and in some cases may pose safety risks. Accurate diagnosis is important because different types of parasomnias have different causes and management approaches.
Types of Parasomnias
Non-REM Parasomnias
- Sleepwalking (somnambulism) — walking or performing complex behaviors while asleep
- Sleep terrors (night terrors) — episodes of intense fear, screaming, or agitation during sleep with limited recall
- Confusional arousals — partial awakening with confusion and disorientation
- Sleep-related eating disorder — eating during partial arousals from sleep
REM Parasomnias
- REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) — acting out vivid dreams due to loss of normal sleep paralysis
- Nightmare disorder — recurrent disturbing dreams causing significant distress or sleep disruption
- Sleep paralysis — temporary inability to move when falling asleep or waking
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia in which the normal muscle paralysis that occurs during REM sleep is absent or incomplete, allowing individuals to physically act out their dreams. This can involve talking, shouting, punching, kicking, or other movements during sleep.
RBD is clinically significant because it has been associated with certain neurodegenerative conditions. A sleep medicine evaluation and overnight sleep study are important for accurate diagnosis and appropriate follow-up.
When to Seek Evaluation
A sleep medicine evaluation is appropriate when abnormal sleep behaviors are frequent, disruptive, potentially dangerous, or causing significant distress. Evaluation is also important when behaviors begin in adulthood, when injury has occurred, or when RBD is suspected.
An overnight sleep study (polysomnography) with video monitoring is often an important part of the evaluation for parasomnias, allowing the sleep medicine physician to observe and characterize the behaviors during sleep.
This page provides general educational information about parasomnias. It does not constitute medical advice or a diagnosis. Consult a qualified sleep medicine physician for evaluation of your specific symptoms.
Concerned About Abnormal Behaviors During Sleep?
Sleep Medicine Institute of Texas evaluates parasomnias and other sleep disorders in Tyler, TX. Contact us to schedule a consultation.