title: Kleine-Levin syndrome associated with fire setting.
abstract: Kleine-Levin syndrome is characterized by periodic hypersomnia associated with megaphagia and striking behavioral and psychiatric symptoms; it occurs primarily in adolescent boys. We treated a 17-year-old boy who had typical recurring somnolent episodes. His bizarre behavior included fire setting and stealing, both of which may have represented compulsions. His EEG during a sleepy episode was diffusely abnormal with generalized slowing of background activity; as he awoke and improved clinically, his EEG returned to normal. Between episodes, his EEG was normal. The relationship between Kleine-Levin syndrome and other sleep disorders is discussed. The neurochemistry and neurocircuitry that may provide the requisite substrate for this complex and fascinating neuropsychiatric disorder are briefly reviewed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005391:Firesetting Behavior / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012895:Sleep, REM; D013577:Syndrome