Parasomnias--an update.

Primary parasomnias are a group of sleep-related clinical disorders that occur in otherwise healthy children, which may be provoked by a variety of physical, psychosocial, and environmental stimuli. In typical cases, additional investigations are not necessary, and treatment should be instituted with the aim of reducing the frequency and adverse consequences of the parasomnia. In patients with co-existing clinical disorders, parasomnias need to be distinguished from symptoms of the underlying disorder. This article provides a brief review of the recent literature regarding parasomnias, and a clinically oriented approach to the management of parasomnias in patients with co-existing clinical disorders.