Sleeping Disorders
· Hypopnoea syndrome: Abnormally shallow breathing or slow respiratory rate while sleeping.
· Narcolepsy: The condition of falling asleep spontaneously and unwillingly at inappropriate times.
· Bruxism: The sufferer involuntarily grinds or clenches his or her teeth while sleeping.
· Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS): A sleep disorder of circadian rhythm, characterized by the inability to wake up and fall asleep at the desired times, but not by inability to stay asleep.
· Night terror or Pavor nocturnus or sleep terror disorder: abrupt awakening from sleep with behaviour consistent with terror.
· Sleep apnoea: The obstruction of the airway during sleep, causing loud snoring and sudden awakenings when breathing stops.
· Parasomnias: Include a variety of disruptive sleep-related events.
· Hatzfeldt Syndrome or Systemic Neuro-Epiphysial Disorder (SNED) is a somnipathy mainly characterized by an irregular sleep pattern, as well as irregular behaviour.
· Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): Sudden involuntary movement of arms and/or legs during sleep, for example kicking the legs. Also known as nocturnal myoclonus. See also Hypnic jerk, which is not a disorder. PLMD sufferers often do not also have RLS.
· Rapid eye movement behaviour disorder (RBD): Acting out violent or dramatic dreams while in REM sleep.
· Restless legs syndrome (RLS): An irresistible urge to move legs. RLS sufferers often also have PLMD.
· Snoring: Loud breathing patterns while sleeping; sometimes this is a symptom of sleep apnoea.
· Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD).
· Sleepwalking or somnambulism: Engaging in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness (such as eating or dressing), which may include walking, without the conscious knowledge of the subject.
Sleep Disorder Treatments
· Behavioural or psychotherapeutic treatments.
· Somatic treatments.
· Medications.
Treatment is diagnosis specific for example narcolepsy is well treated with medications and insomnia sufferers respond well to behavioural treatments. It is often seen with the treatment of sleeping disorders that a combination of treatments is most beneficial.