title: Parasomnias and their mimics.
abstract: Parasomnias are classified into nonrapid eye movement and rapid eye movement sleep parasomnias. It is important for the clinician to consider other parasomnia mimics that present to the sleep disorders clinic. These conditions can be differentiated by taking a detailed sleep history and conducting nocturnal polysomnograms to evaluate for potential comorbidities and better characterize the disorder. Mainstays of treatment include treating any underlying primary sleep disorders that induce sleep fragmentation and could trigger the parasomnia, as well as implementing safety precautions to protect patients and their household. Pharmacologic treatment of many parasomnias is also available if needed and clinically indicated.
authors.affiliation: SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1438 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Raman K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: Alon Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Avidan
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020447:Parasomnias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology