title: Parasomnias.
abstract: Parasomnias are undesirable behaviors that arise from sleep but are not fully under voluntary control. Parasomnias are grouped broadly according to whether they arise from non-rapid eye movement (NREM) or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. NREM parasomnias are disorders of arousal that occur along a continuum of behavioral, affective, and autonomic activation. REM-related parasomnias include REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep paralysis, and nightmare disorder. Parasomnias can often be managed successfully using behavioral and pharmacologic therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Plante
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Winkelman
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal; D004325:Dreams; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*