Epilepsy and NREM-parasomnia: A complex and reciprocal relationship

摘要

The differential diagnosis between sleep-related epilepsies and NREM parasomnias may be difficult because of the possible clinical similarities between the two disorders, particularly when affective symptoms or ambulatory behaviours characterize the paroxysmal episodes [1]. Several attempts have been made to define specific and reliable clinical diagnostic criteria [1-3] and to describe peculiar semeiological patterns recognizable by Video-Polysomnographic (V-PSG) recordings [4]; however, the differential diagnosis still remains challenging in some cases, especially if epilepsy and parasomnia coexist in the same subject.