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Night terrors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

B. Van Sweden
Affiliation:
Medisch Centrum St.-Jozef, Bilzen
J. Bollen
Affiliation:
Psychiatrisch Ziekenhuis Sancta Maria, Melveren
B. Leroy
Affiliation:
Universitair Centrum St.-Jozef, Kortenberg, K.U. Leuven
F. Mesotten
Affiliation:
Medisch Centrum St.-Jozef, Bilzen

Summary

The parasomnias are important yet badly recognised dysfunctions in clinical psychiatry. The clinical presentation and consequences in adults differ considerably from the often benign dysfunction in childhood. We present a case of incubus in a patient suffering from recurrent unipolar affective psychosis (type mania). The polysomnographic features are discussed and the differentiation from other paroxysmal amnestic conditions is emphasized. Pathophysiology encompasses a Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) arousal disorder probably related to a serotoninergic dysfunction. The relationship withpsychopa-thology is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 1993

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References

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