Parasomnias

The final category of sleep disorders described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is parasomnias.
The word “-somnia” is related to sleep, but what does the root “para” mean? “Para” stands for abnormal.
To simplify: parasomnias are disorders where something abnormal happens during sleep. Let’s take a closer look!

According to the DSM-5, Non-REM Sleep Arousal Disorder is characterized by incomplete awakenings from sleep followed by episodes of sleepwalking or night terrors.

• During a sleepwalking episode, a person gets out of bed and walks around, and no matter how much you try to communicate with them, they remain unresponsive.
• During a night terror episode, a person wakes up in a state of terror, completely panicked—so much so that it’s very difficult to calm them down.

Other symptoms of Non-REM Sleep Arousal Disorder include:

• Little to no dream recall
• No memory of the sleepwalking or night terror episodes
• The episodes cause significant distress
• There is no better explanation for the symptoms.

According to the DSM-5, Nightmare Disorder is characterized by:

• Recurring nightmares: extremely vivid dreams involving life-threatening danger
• Upon waking, the person is alert and conscious
• The episodes cause significant distress
• There is no better explanation for the symptoms.

According to the DSM-5, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder is characterized by:

• Vocalizations and/or complex motor behaviors during REM sleep
• At least one of the following:
  • Muscle activity during REM sleep (absence of normal REM atonia)
  • A diagnosis of a synucleinopathy (e.g., Parkinson’s disease)
• Upon waking, the person is alert and conscious
• The episodes cause significant distress
• There is no better explanation for the symptoms.

According to the DSM-5, Restless Legs Syndrome is characterized by:

• An irresistible urge to move the legs, which worsens at rest and in the evening or night, and is relieved by movement. This urge must occur at least three times per week for the past three months
• The episodes cause significant distress
• There is no better explanation for the symptoms.

Sources

• American Psychiatric Association (2013) – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.)
• Bernhill, J. W. (2014) – DSM-5 Clinical Cases

I also recommend watching this: video.

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