This Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they exist. The article ends with the authors’ clinical recommendations.
Narcolepsy is a chronic disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness
and other symptoms that are due to abnormal rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
Other signs and symptoms:
• Quick transitions into REM sleep
• Vivid dreams, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis
• Cataplexy (sudden, short periods of muscle weakness triggered
by strong emotions, typically laughter) in narcolepsy type 1
Narcolepsy type 1 occurs when the hypothalamus produces little or no orexin,
a hormone that helps maintain wakefulness and controls REM (dreaming) sleep.
Narcolepsy type 2 does not have a known cause.
