Parasomnias

Parasomnias are sleep disorders characterized by undesired physical activities, behaviors, and perceptions that occur during the transition between wakefulness and sleep, during sleep or during the transition between sleep and wakefulness. Parasomnias are usually associated with disruption of normal sleep patterns and can significantly affect quality of life. Common examples of parasomnias include sleepwalking, sleep talking, nightmares and night terrors, sleep paralysis, and REM sleep behavior disorder. Treatment is based on attempting to modify the environment to reduce the episodes, as well as medications that can modify the sleep-wake cycle and reduce the chances of a parasomnia event.