ABSTRACT
The parasomnias are undesirable events that occur exclusively during the sleep period or that are exacerbated by sleep. Although some of the parasomnias may be quite frightening, most of them are benign, self-limited and only infrequently require treatment. Generally, the vast majority of the parasomnias are more common in children, although some of them tend to persist into adulthood or elderly life. There are several possible ways to classify the parasomnias. The most widely accepted classification is that suggested by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which is based on the sleep stage during which each of the parasomnias tends to occur (see Appendix).
