Canadian Medical Guide > Diseases > Nervous System Diseases > Sleep Disorders > Parasomnias Terms and Definitions

Parasomnias

Medical Definition:	Movements or behaviors associated with sleep, sleep stages, or partial arousals from sleep that may impair sleep maintenance. Parasomnias are generally divided into four groups: arousal disorders, sleep-wake transition disorders, parasomnias of REM sleep, and nonspecific parasomnias. (From Thorpy, Sleep Disorders Medicine, 1994, p191)
Guide Notes:	do not confuse x-ref BENIGN NEONATAL SLEEP MYOCLONUS with MYOCLONUS, NOCTURNAL and MYOCLONUS, SLEEP see MYOCLONUS
Also Called:	Neonatal Sleep Myoclonus, Benign,Sensory Paroxysms, Sleep,Sleep Drunkenness,Sleep-Related Abnormal Swallowing Syndrome
Previously Indexed:	Sleep Disorders (1979-1999),Somnambulism (1979-1980)

Parasomnias Categories.

	Nocturnal Paroxysmal Dystonia - A parasomnia characterized by paroxysmal episodes of choreoathetotic, ballistic, dystonic movements, and semipurposeful activity. The episodes occur during non-rapid eye movement sleep and typically recur several times per night. (Neurology 1992 Jul;42(7 Suppl 6):61-67; Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p391)
	REM Sleep Parasomnias - Abnormal behavioral or physiologic events that are associated with REM sleep, including REM SLEEP BEHAVIOR DISORDER.
	Sleep Arousal Disorders - Sleep disorders characterized by impaired arousal from the deeper stages of sleep (generally stage III or IV sleep).
	Sleep-Wake Transition Disorders - Parasomnias characterized by behavioral abnormalities that occur during the transition between wakefulness and sleep (or between sleep and wakefulness).

Parasomnias Medical Definitions and Terms

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