Table 2 Different features of Disorders of Arousal (DOA), Sleep-Related Hypermotor Epilepsy (SHE), Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) and Nightmares
From: Disorders of Arousal in adults: new diagnostic tools for clinical practice
DOA | SHE | Isolated RBD | Nightmares | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age at onset (years) | 3–8 | Any age | After 50 | Usually 3–6 |
Course | Tends to disappear | Usually increases | Rare spontaneous remission | Variable |
Number of episodes/night | Usually one | Usually several | From one to several | From one to several |
Time of occurrence during the night | First third | Any time | Last third | Last third |
Episode duration | 1–30 min | sec-to 3 min | 1–2 min | sec-to min |
Motor pattern | Variable: exploring environment, manipulating objects usually with eyes opening, fixing covers, screaming, speaking, sleepwalking | Highly stereotyped: complex body movements with kicking or cycling of limbs and rocking body movements or asymmetric tonic/dystonic postures | Complex behavior according to dream mentation | Absent |
Awareness if awakened | Usually absent | Variable | Usually present | Usually present |
Recall at the end of the episode | Usually absent | Variable | Usual, sometimes with vivid details | Usual, sometimes with vivid details |