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Sleep Disorder Introduction
Sleep Disorders
Sleep Disorder Introduction
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Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a disorder that is characterized by failure to exhibit muscle paralysis or atonia during REM sleep. Along with lack of muscle atonia, patients with RBD display behaviors of “acting out” their dreams, which can be harmful to themselves or others around them (Gagnon, Postuma, Mazza & Montplaisir, 2006, p. 425). It has been reported that the dreams are usually very vivid nightmares or close to them and are usually violent, which are expressed through running, punching, kicking, and more injurious behavior (Paparrigopoulos, 2005, p. 294). In 1986 Schenck and his colleagues recognized RBD as a clinical disorder and then in 1990 it was included into the “International Classification of Sleep Disorders” (Gagnon et al., 2006, p. 425). The American Academy of Sleep Medicine states that there are the three categories that distinguish RBD. The categories are: mild, moderate, and severe. Mild RBD is where the patient experiences the “acting-out” of dreams at least once a month and it only causes mild discomfort. Moderate RBD is more physically discomforting than mild and is experienced more than once a month, but not once per week. Severe RBD is the hardest, and includes experiencing “acting-out” their dreams at least once per week and results in physical injury of their person or of others around them (as cited in Paparrigopoulos, 2005, p. 294). RBD is a very rare disorder and therefore reports of an exact prevalence is not known. Paparrigopoulos reports an estimate of about .5% in the overall population, though it has been shown to be more prominent in males (2005, p. 294). There are two identifications of RBD, the majority of the observed cases are defined as “idiopathic”, which m... ... middle of paper ... ... of the 44 participants had developed a neurodegenerative disorder (Mahowald & Schenck, 2013, p. 417). There was another study done by Schenck and his colleagues and they found that in after a five year follow-up 11 out of 29 (38%) developed a neurodegenerative disorder after being initially diagnosed with RBD. After a seven year follow-up their results showed an increase of 27% of the participants developed a neurodegenerative disorder (Gagnon et al., 2006, p. 428). Though, findings state that RBD can occur anything to 5 years till up to half a century before other symptoms of a neurodegenerative disease (Mahowald & Schenck, 2013, p.418). In conclusion, studies have shown that 30-65% of patients with idiopathic RBD will eventually develop a neurodegenerative disorder with the rate of appearance depending on the length of the follow-up period (Fulda, 2011, p.451).
Webb, W. B., & Cartwright, R. D. (1978). Sleep and Dreams. Annual Review of Psychology, 29(1), 223-252. doi:10.1146/annurev.ps.29.020178.001255
In 1977, Drs. Allen Hobson and Robert McCarley of Harvard University presented a neurophysiological model of the dream process called: The Activation- synthesis Model of Dreaming. This paper published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggested that the occurrence of dreaming sleep is physiologically determined by a "dream state generator" located in the brain stem. The main emphasis of the Activation-synthesis theory is dreaming is not psychological but physiological. This totally contradicts all that Freud preached, however he was absolutely correct about one aspect of dreaming, which is every stage involves sexual arousal. Hobson/ McCarley's extensive research proves dreaming to be physiological on the basis of the predictability of dreaming sleep. The duration of dreaming sleep is also constant, which suggests the dreaming process as not only automatic and periodic but metabolically determined. This find contradicts the classic Freudian theory of a driving force behind all dreams. Hobson and McCarley see our poor ability to recall our dreams as reflecting "a state-dependent amnesia, since a carefully effected state change, to waking, may produce abundant recall even of highly charged dream material." So with that logic in mind if you are rapidly awakened out of REM sleep, you are likely to remember dreams that you would otherwise forget.
As we all know, sleep is an important part of our lives. Without the proper amounts and type of sleep, fatigue and other problems can arise. Generally, we can clearly distinguish between a sleeping person and a person that is awake. With sleeping disorders, the distinction between an awake person and a sleeping person becomes more intriguing. What is the difference, how does it relate to the I-function and consciousness? Each sleeping disorder has its own unique answer to this question. It is essential to understand sleep to fully appreciate it. However, many aspects of it remain a mystery. We do have some degree of understanding of sleep. Within our sleep cycle a type of unusual sleep occurs, REM sleep. During this cycle the periods of REM sleep are interspersed with slow wave sleep in alternation. Each period of REM sleep (there are usually 4 or 5 periods a night) lasts for approximately 5 to 30 minutes. During these periods a sleep paradox occurs. An enormous amount of brain activity takes place; this is sometimes even more activity then when awake. This clearly indicates that sleep is not simply to rest our mind and not to think. So, during this period our brains are extremely active, yet there is usually no input or output. During this period, along with the random eye movement (REM), there is a complete loss of muscle tone. Essentially, at this point, the motor system is paralyzed (normally the body inhibits any movement). The autonomic nervous system also alters its behavior. The regulation of body temperature is lost and the blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rates shows increased variability. REM sleep can be detected by measuring the electrical activity of the brain with an electroencephalogram. At this point, the EEG will show the same pattern of activity as when the brain is awake.
We live our entire life in two states, sleep and awake1. These two states are characterized by two distinct behaviors. For instance, the brain demonstrates a well-defined activity during non-REM sleep (nREM) that is different when we are awake. In the study of sleep by Huber et. al., the authors stated that sleep is in fact a global state2. It is unclear whether this statement means that sleep is a state of global behavioural inactivity or the state of the global nervous system. The notion that sleep is a global state of the nervous system served as basis for sleep researchers to search for a sleep switch. The discovery of the sleep switch, in return, provided evidence and enhanced the notion that sleep is a global state of the nervous system. The switch hypothesis developed from the fact that sleep can be initiated without fatigue and it is reversible1. It was hypothesized that there is something in the brain that has the ability to control the whole brain and initiate sleep. Studies have found a good candidate that demonstrated this ability3. They found a group of neurons in the Ventrolateral Preoptic (VLPO) nucleus. It was a good candidate because it was active during sleep, has neuronal output that can influence the wakefulness pathway, and lesion in the area followed reduce sleep3. The idea that there is something that can control the whole brain and result sleep state supports the idea that sleep is a global state of the nervous system.
Hirshkowitz, M., & Smith, P. B. (2004). Sleep disorders for dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub.
Sleep disorders are a very serious problem for a lot of people. It affects a lot of people 's lives, requiring them to have to live a very different life than the average person. The five most commonly known sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep apnea, sleepwalking, and narcolepsy. Sleep insomnia is when you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep even when you have a chance to do so. Sleep apnea is when you have trouble breathing when you’re asleep. Sleepwalking is when you’re in a deep sleep and you start to walk around or perform some kind of complex behavior. People that are affected by these disorders have a very hard time either getting to sleep or staying asleep. I will be explaining what all of these disorders are and how they affect
The discovery of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep suggested that sleep was not, as it was thought to be, a dormant state but rather a mentally dynamic one. Your brain is, in fact, very active in this state, almost to the level at which it is when a person is awake. Yet during this active stage in which most dreams occur, the movements of the rest of the body are completely stilled. To imagine this paralysis during dreams not occurring is a frightful image, since in many cases dreams are violent and active. When the neurotransmitters that control the movement of the body do not work properly the person develops REM sleep behavioral disorder (RBD).
According to the history, Sleep Paralysis was classified as nightmare, a term that evolved into our modern definition by Samuel Johnson. It was widely considered to be the work of the demons, which were thought to sit on the chest of the sleeper. Various forms of magic and spiritual possession were also advanced as causes. But Sleep Paralysis can occur in the state between REM sleep, where dreaming occurs, and waking up. During REM sleep, the brain paralyses the body in order to keep us away from carrying out our dream-actions that could harm ourselves somehow. At times, our brain does not put off these dreams or the paralysis that comes along with them, resulting in a potentially terrifying experience. Sleep paralysis had been linked to disorders such as migraines, anxiety disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea. But when linked to another disorder, sleep paralysis commonly occurs together with the neurological sleep disorder called Narcolepsy. David McCarty, a sleep researcher at Louisiana State Health University, explained that in sleep paralysis, two of the key REM sleep components are presen...
Almost everyone seem to suffer from not being able to get enough sleep at some time in their life. If you are always tired then that means that you’re not getting enough sleep. As we all know, inadequate sleep which is referred to as insomnia. Insomnia is basically one of the many sleeping disorders that some people may have and is one of the most common sleep disorder. There are many different effects of insomnia which includes some may become less productive, less ambitious, have a poor performance at school, work, or their everyday life tasks. Insomnia is not an illness but it is a symptom which can typically last no more than maybe a few days or it could be long term for some people. Who gets insomnia? According to Bayer (2001) “Approximately 36 out of every 100 Americans have reported experiencing this symptom [insomnia]. However, only 5 out of every 100 Americans consider the problem severe enough to seek medical help” (p. 22).
REM is rapid eye movement which in sleep stage characterized by eye rapid movement and increased dreaming. Nom-REM is non rapid eye movement stages of sleep that alternate with REM stages during sleep cycles. Going to sleep means losing awareness and falling to respond to a stimulus that would produce a response in the waking state. At least 50 million Americans suffer from chronic, long term sleeping disorders and 20 million other Americans have regular sleep problems. The scientific study of typical sleep patterns has yielded further insights into several sleep disorders such as; sleep talking, sleepwalking, nightmares, night terrors, insomnia, apnea, and narcolepsy. Nightmares are frightening dreams that occur during REM sleep stage and usually are remembered. Night terrors are frightening and terrifying dreams that occur during NREM sleep state that which a person is difficult to awaken and doesn 't remember the content. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized or remaining asleep throughout the night. Apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by breathing difficulty during the night and feelings of exhaustion during the day. Narcolepsy is a hereditary disorder by suddenly nodding off during the day and sudden loss of muscle toe following movements of emotional
Ohayon, M.M., Caulet, M., Priest, R.G. (1997) Violent Behavior During Sleep New Jersey: J Clin Psychiatry
Sleep disorders are an underestimated public health concern considering that fifty to seventy million Americans are affected. Technological advances in the field of sleep have facilitated various theories to explain the need for and the purpose of sleep. Scientist have uncovered many types of sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. Sleep disorders affect men ,women, children, the elderly, and the obese in different ways. Factors such as the number of children and the effects of menopause have been studied to determine their effects on sleep. Various treatments have been utilized ranging from non-pharmacologic to pharmacologic methods. Scientist have pinpointed areas of the brain that are involved in sleep deprivation and hormones that ultimately affect sleep.
In this Forum on Sleep and Dreams, we will see how the diversity of academic disciplines can help to answer important questions about sleep and dreaming—questions that may touch the basis of human intellect. The Forum is fortunate in...
The sleep cycle comes in a multi-stage cycle. All in all there are five cycles. The first four of the stages is where there is non-rapid eye movement (NREM). As the fifth stage occurs, that is where rapid eyes moment (REM) happens. Nightmares almost always occur in the second half of a persons sleep and it is always followed with an awakening of the individual even if the person doesn’t remember waking up during the night. Nine times out of ten, when people’s brain can’t handle what is going on during the rapid eye movement stage, they wake up very panically and are also very aware of their surroundings.
Sleep and Sleep Disorders. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 July 2013. Web. 7 May 2014. .