Sleep-related dissociative disorder in a 6-year-old girl.

Sleep-related dissociative disorders are parasomnias that can emerge at any point during the sleep period and are associated with traumatic life experiences. No reports to date have described this parasomnia in a school-age child. This case report discusses presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a 6-year-old girl with this diagnosis. Sleep-related dissociative disorder should be considered in young children who have experienced traumatic life events and who present with abnormal sleep patterns and bizarre behavior. Early identification and intensive psychotherapy can be efficacious for these children.