Three cases of parasomnias similar to sleep terrors occurring during sleep-wake transitions from REM sleep

J Clin Sleep Med. 2022 Feb 1;18(2):669-675. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9666.

Abstract

Sleep terrors are a non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep-related parasomnia characterized by abrupt terror with a frightening scream. However, it remains unknown whether sleep terrors occur only from NREM sleep. We evaluated 3 cases of a sleep terrors-like parasomnia that occurred exclusively during arousals from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. These parasomnia events occurred at REM sleep-wake transitions, manifesting with screaming or crying, similar to sleep terrors, without alertness or clear orientation. The patients were all young-adult females without notable medical conditions. REM sleep behavior disorder and nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy were not detected based on their video-polysomnographic findings. These 3 cases should be provisionally diagnosed as "Parasomnia, Unspecified" according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, third edition; however, the phenomenological diagnosis is proposed to be "Disorders of Arousal from REM Sleep." Our reported cases indicate that sleep terrors may also arise from REM sleep.

Citation: Futenma K, Inoue Y, Saso A, Takaesu Y, Yamashiro Y, Matsuura M. Three cases of parasomnias similar to sleep terrors occurring during sleep-wake transitions from REM sleep. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(2):669-675.

Keywords: RBD; V-PSG; clonazepam; nightmare disorder; parasomnia; sleep terrors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Night Terrors*
  • Parasomnias* / diagnosis
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Sleep Wake Disorders*
  • Sleep, REM