Parasomnias: Things That Go “Bump” In the Night-View Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Carlos Sheng, an expert in sleep medicine, discusses parasomnias, which are undesirable events occurring during sleep phases or arousals. Throughout his career, he's focused on conditions like sexsomnia, sleep-eating disorders, and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), which involve inappropriate actions during sleep. Parasomnias can be primary or secondary to medications or sleep disorders like apnea. Dr. Sheng highlights the significance of RBD as an early indicator of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and dementia linked to alpha synuclein. The prevalence of RBD is similar to schizophrenia. It often results in injuries due to acting out vivid dreams, which may involve aggression or unfamiliar scenarios. Diagnosis requires polysomnographic evidence of REM sleep without atonia. Certain medications, particularly antidepressants, can trigger RBD. He emphasizes the importance of managing medications to prevent or address parasomnias, while also noting treatment options like clonazepam and melatonin for RBD. Dr. Sheng stresses the need for collaboration between psychiatrists and sleep specialists to manage parasomnias effectively, considering their potential psychological and physical impact.

Keywords

parasomnias

sleep medicine

REM sleep behavior disorder

neurodegenerative diseases

polysomnographic evidence

sexsomnia

sleep-eating disorders

medication management

Dr. Carlos Sheng