Flavie Waters1,2, Umberto Moretto3,4,5, Thien Thanh Dang-Vu4,5. 1. School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia. flavie.waters@health.wa.gov.au. 2. Clinical Research Centre, Graylands Hospital, North Metropolitan Health Service-Mental Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. flavie.waters@health.wa.gov.au. 3. Psychiatric Unit I Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa, Italy. 4. Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology & PERFORM Center, Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, SP 165.27, Montreal, H4B 1R6, Canada. 5. Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), 4545 chemin Queen-Mary, M5815, Montreal, H3W 1W5, Canada.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Little is known about the presence of parasomnias such as nightmare disorder, sleep paralysis, REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and sleep-related eating disorders (SRED) in people with mental illness. A predominant view suggests that psychotropic medications might be contributing to parasomnias. This article summarizes knowledge regarding the relationships between psychiatric disorders and parasomnias, and possible confounds. A systematic search of the literature in the past 10 years identified 19 articles. RECENT FINDINGS: There were significantly elevated rates of parasomnias in psychiatric disorders (average prevalence of nightmares was 38.9%, sleep paralysis 22.3%, SRED 9.9%, sleepwalking 8.5%, and RBD 3.8%). Medication usage was only one of many risk factors (other sleep disorders, medical comorbidities, and substance abuse) which were associated with parasomnias. A strong association exists between mental illness and parasomnias which is not fully explained by medications. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to develop a better understanding of the unique and shared variance from multiple risk factors.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Little is known about the presence of parasomnias such as nightmare disorder, sleep paralysis, REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and sleep-related eating disorders (SRED) in people with mental illness. A predominant view suggests that psychotropic medications might be contributing to parasomnias. This article summarizes knowledge regarding the relationships between psychiatric disorders and parasomnias, and possible confounds. A systematic search of the literature in the past 10 years identified 19 articles. RECENT FINDINGS: There were significantly elevated rates of parasomnias in psychiatric disorders (average prevalence of nightmares was 38.9%, sleep paralysis 22.3%, SRED 9.9%, sleepwalking 8.5%, and RBD 3.8%). Medication usage was only one of many risk factors (other sleep disorders, medical comorbidities, and substance abuse) which were associated with parasomnias. A strong association exists between mental illness and parasomnias which is not fully explained by medications. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to develop a better understanding of the unique and shared variance from multiple risk factors.
Authors: G J Gerrit de Niet; B G Bea Tiemens; H H G M Bert Lendemeijer; G J M Giel Hutschemaekers Journal: J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs Date: 2008-08 Impact factor: 2.952