title: Narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness: diagnostic considerations, epidemiology, and comorbidities.
abstract: Narcolepsy is a chronic, neurologic disorder that has severe disabling effects on affected patients. It usually becomes manifest between the ages of 10 and 25 years and is recognized by a tetrad of symptoms that includes excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations. Excessive daytime sleepiness is common and associated with a broad range of medical, sleep, and psychiatric disorders; therefore, accurate diagnosis of narcolepsy and comorbid disorders is important for optimal treatment response.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA. rmbenca@wisc.edu
authors: Ruth M
authors: RM
authors: Benca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002385:Cataplexy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D017286:Polysomnography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology