Institute for Continuing Education

Dealing with Parasomnias

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• To define “parasomnias” and distinguís them from other sep disorders.
• To identify and discuss the various abnormal sleep states known as parasomnias.
• To explain how parasomnias are diagnosed in a sleep studies laboratory.
• To identify and discuss the recommended treatments for parasomnias.

Course Information

We may not know exactly what parasomnias are, but we do know some things about them. All parasomnias occur out of non-REM sleep. They occur during transitions from one sleep stage to another. They usually occur coming out of stage three or four sleep, what is referred to as deep sleep. The person is basically stuck halfway between being asleep and awake. He is neither fully asleep nor fully awake.

Some children sleepwalk or have a sleep terror every night. For other children, it will wax and wane, with “good” weeks and “bad” ones. Every child is different. Some children may have only one episode in their lifetime.