Parasomnia: Describing What Goes Bump in the Night and More than Something to Lose Sleep Over

Abstract

Sleep disorders known as parasomnias are characterized by undesirable behaviors occurring during the sleep period. Recently, new and different parasomnias have been emerging, some relatively harmless, but others complicated enough to involve legal issues. This thesis uses a content analysis comprised of eighteen medical charts of parasomnia patients from two physicians and attempts to provide an overall profile of a parasomnia patient. The findings of this thesis indicate that there are certain demographic characteristics or traits shared among parasomnia patients. Also, this thesis did not find that most of the subjects were overweight or on sleep medications, contrary to expectations. Lastly, there was a connection found between certain parasomnia patients having legal issues. Future studies should include possible risk factors like sleep deprivation, stress, and use of alcohol or drugs when studying parasomnia patients as well as enhancing certain methodological aspects this thesis points out are limiting.