Chapter 11

Parasomnias

Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment

Douglas B. Kirsch MD, FAASM

Douglas B. Kirsch MD, FAASM

Harvard Medical School and Division of Sleep Neurology, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 07 October 2013

Summary

This chapter will review the common parasomnias, discuss clinician evaluation of parasomnias, and examine different treatment modalities. Both NREM and REM parasomnias will be listed and discussed; specific indicators for making the correct diagnosis will be reviewed. In patients with parasomnias, physicians need to consider alternative diagnoses, including both other sleep and non-sleep disorders, and fully evaluate patients so as to avoid incorrect management. Parasomnia treatments are often conservative, though specific cases may require pharmacological management.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.