Medicolegal aspects of non-rapid eye movement parasomnias

INTRODUCTION@#In a subset of adults with non-rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnias, clinical variants might be violent in nature and can potentially result in unintentional but considerable harm. As such, there is substantial interest on the forensic ramifications of these sleep behaviours.@*METHODS@#This review examined the diagnostic criteria for parasomnias established in the context of international classification systems; medicolegal case reports; legal frameworks; and court cases in and outside of Singapore, to provide an overview of the implications of NREM parasomnias.@*RESULTS@#Violent or injurious behaviours that occurred in the context of somnambulism, otherwise known as sleepwalking, have challenged traditional legal theories of criminal culpability. Yet little has changed in the application of sleep science to criminal responsibility. In Singapore, the defence of somnambulism has hitherto not been directly raised. Nonetheless, sleep medicine practitioners may increasingly be requested to render their opinions on legal issues pertaining to violent or injurious behaviours allegedly arising during sleep. Although the understanding of NREM parasomnias has improved, there is still a dearth of evidence to support both medical and legal decisions in this area.@*CONCLUSION@#NREM parasomnias come with disquieting legal and forensic implications for adjudicating criminal responsibility. There is a need to critically examine legal perspectives on behaviours occurring during sleep. More reliable empirical studies investigating the pathophysiology of NREM parasomnias can offer clearer diagnostic guidelines and address complex behaviours of NREM that often come with medicolegal implications.

"Catatrenia": un trastorno del sueño poco conocido: descripción de tres casos clínicos pediátricos / Catathrenia: unknown sleep disorder: report 3 cases in pediatric patients

Catatrenia (gemido nocturno) es una condición rara caracterizada por sonidos irregulares que ocurren durante el sueño. Los comportamientos ocurren intermitentemente durante cualquiera de las dos etapas de sueño, REM o NREM y se caracterizan por gemidos prolongados, a menudo muy fuertes, socialmente perturbadores, durante la expiración. Es poco conocido y espera más definición y estudios terapéuticos. Hay pocos reportes y en su mayoría de pacientes adultos. Se presentan 3 casos en pacientes pediátricos.

Catathrenia (nocturnal groaning) is a rare condition characterized by irregular sounds that occur during sleep. The behaviors occur intermittently during either REM or NREM sleep and are characterized by prolonged, often very loud, socially disruptive groaning sounds during expiration. It is poorly understood and awaits further definition and therapeutic studies. There are few reports mostly adult patients are presented below 3 cases in pediatric patients.

Prevalence of Sleep Bruxism and Association with Oral Health Conditions in Schoolchildren in a Municipality in Southern Brazil

Abstract Objective: To estimate the prevalence of sleep bruxism and its association with oral health conditions in schoolchildren. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in public schools of Tubarão, SC, Brazil with students aged 10 to 15 years. The oral examination was performed in classrooms by dental surgeons, using the WHO criteria. Data on malocclusions, caries and dental trauma, fluorosis, bleeding gums and the presence of dental calculus were collected. For the diagnosis of bruxism, the criterion of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine was adopted. The chi-square test was used to assess the association between sleep bruxism and oral health conditions. Prevalence ratios and confidence intervals were estimated by Poisson regression with robust estimator. Results: A total of 389 students were examined. The prevalence of sleep bruxism was 22.0%. Schoolchildren with malocclusion, increased overjet and dental calculus showed a statistically higher and independent prevalence of 9.0% (p=0.003), 6.0% (p=0.006) and 19.0% (p<0.001), respectively. Conclusion: Prevalence of sleep bruxism was 22% in the study population and was associated with malocclusions, particularly increased overjet, and the presence of dental calculus.

Trastornos paroxísticos no epilépticos neonatales / Non-epileptic paroxysmal disorder in neonates

Los trastornos paroxísticos no epilépticos son eventos frecuentes en el neonato, generalmente transitorios. Sin embargo, por su intensidad pueden ser confundidos como verdaderas crisis epilépticas. El objetivo de esta revisión es actualizar los conceptos en relación a los temblores, mioclonías neonatales benignas del sueño (MNBS) e hiperecplexia. Los temblores son muy frecuentes, una vez identificados debe determinarse si pertenecen a un síndrome de hiperexcitabilidad relacionado con factores maternos o perinatales, en casos idiopáticos se espera buen pronóstico. Las MNBS con frecuencia se confunden con crisis epilépticas, se caracterizan porque las mioclonías son breves y solo se presentan en el sueño, los niños son normales y el EEG también es normal. La hiperecplexia es un trastorno raro, genéticamente determinado, caracterizado por hipertonía y reacciones de sobresalto exagerado ante un estímulo banal, que pueden mejorar con clonazepam.

Non-epileptic paroxysmal disorders are frequent events in the neonate, generally transient. However, due to their intensity they can be confused as true epileptic seizures. The objective of this review is to update the concepts in relation to tremors, neonatal benign sleep myoclonus (MNBS) and hyperekplexia. The tremors are very frequent, once identified it must be determined if they belong to a hyperexcitability syndrome related to maternal or perinatal factors, in idiopathic cases a good prognosis is expected. MNBS are often confused with epileptic seizures. They are characterized by the fact that myoclonus is brief and occurs only in sleep, children are normal, and the EEG is also normal. Hyperekplexia is a rare, genetically determined disorder characterized by hypertonia and exaggerated startle reactions to a banal stimulus, which can be improved with clonazepam.

Transtornos do sono: atualização (parte2/2) / Sleep disorders: up to date (2/2)

Este artigo (2/2) compõe uma revisão sobre fundamentos do sono e transtornos do sono (TS), sendo aqui considerados: 1-Incapacidade de dormir na hora desejada-atraso de fase, avanço de fase, ''jet lag'', ritmo sono-vigília irregular, sono/vigília de livre curso, transtornos dos trabalhadores em turnos; 2-Movimentos ou comportamentos anormais durante o sono. Este segundo grupo é aqui subdividido em: A1-Parassonias relacionadas ao sono NREM (Non-rapid eye movement) ­ despertar confusional, sonambulismo, terror noturno, síndrome da cabeça explosiva, alucinações relacionadas ao sono, enurese noturna e parassonias causadas por doenças e medicações; A2-Parassonias relacionadas ao sono REM (rapid eye movement) - transtorno comportamental do sono REM, pesadelos, paralisias recorrentes isoladas do sono, promulgação sono ''dream enactment behavior"; B-Transtornos do movimento relacionados ao sono-bruxismo, síndrome das pernas inquietas, movimentos periódicos das pernas, câimbras do sono, movimentos rítmicos relacionados ao sono, mioclonias proprioespinhais do início do sono, movimentos relacionados à medicação, mioclonias em doenças sistêmicas e mioclonias benignas do sono em bebês.(AU)

This is the second part (2/2) of an article that intends to review major topics regarding sleep fundamentals and sleep disorders (SD), now considering: 1-Circadian rhythm disorders-delayed onset sleep phase disorder, advanced onset sleep phase disorder, jet lag, irregular sleep-wake rhythm, free-running type, shift work type; 2-Abnormal movements or behaviours during sleep. This second category is divided in two groups: A1-NREM (Non-rapid eye movement) parasomnias ­ confusional awakening, sleepwalking, night terrors, explosive head syndrome, sleep-related hallucinations, nocturnal enuresis and parasomnias related to diseases or medications; A2-REM (Rapid eye movement) parasomnias-REM sleep behaviour disorder, nightmares, recurrent isolated sleep paralysis, dream enactment behaviour; B-Sleep related movement disorders-bruxism, restless legs syndrome, periodical limb movement disorders, nocturnal leg cramps, sleep related rhythmic movement disorder, propriospinal myoclonus, movements related to medication use, myoclonus related to systemic diseases and benign myoclonus of sleep.(AU)

Parasomnias: an overview.

Parasomnias are abnormal experiences or behaviours that occur during sleep and can be subdivided into disorders of arousal, disorders of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep or other parasomnias. Diagnosis rests on a thorough clinical evaluation with supporting data from a full polysomnography with time synchronized video. While the prognosis for arousal disorders is generally excellent, the diagnosis of REM behaviour disorder (RBD) is more ominous and associated with neurodegenerative disorders, and as such, requires routine neurological surveillance. The cornerstone of treatment for all parasomnias is adequate patient and bed partner education. Data supporting pharmacologic therapy are limited but clonazapam for RBD has been reported to be effective in up to 89 per cent of patients.