ABSTRACT
Parasomnias are undesirable physical or sensory experiences that occur with sleep. These events often involve bizarre and unusual behaviors, and can challenge even the most ardent sleep specialist or epileptologist. Although some events are uncommon, 3% of adults and 20% of children may have recurring nocturnal behaviors. Many of these events are passed off as little more than frivolous episodes. Yet, nocturnal events may provide important clues to sleep and neurological function. The diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal events can be difficult because of the frequent overlap of clinical descriptions and lack of diurnal findings. Patients may not follow the ‘‘classical’’ patterns of parasomnia or epilepsy, and some patients may have parasomnias provoked by other sleep disturbances or seizures. Thus, the diagnosis of these patients often requires intensive investigation and extensive neurophysiological monitoring.
