A sleep disorder (somnipathy) is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can interfere with mental and emotional function.

Common sleep disorders

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The most common sleep disorders include:

• Bruxism: The sufferer involuntarily grinds his or her teeth while sleeping
• Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS): a sleep disorder of circadian rhythm
• Hypopnea syndrome
• Insomnia: While not considered a sleep disorder in its own right, Insomnia is characterized by the inability to fall asleep and/or remain asleep for a reasonable amount of time.
• Jet lag or desynchronosis: Temporary condition resulting in out of sync sleep patterns as a result of rapidly travelling across multiple time zones
• Narcolepsy: The condition of falling asleep spontaneously and unwillingly
• Night terror or Pavor nocturnus or sleep terror disorder: abrupt awakening from sleep with behavior consistent with terror
• Parasomnias: Include a variety of disruptive sleep-related events
• Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): Involuntary movement of arms and/or legs during sleep. See also Hypnic jerk, which is not a disorder.
• Rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD): Acting out violent or dramatic dreams while in REM sleep
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS): An irresistible urge to move legs while sleeping. Often accompanies PLMD.
• Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD)
• Sleep apnea: The obstruction of the airway during sleep
• Sleep paralysis: Conscious paralysis upon waking or falling asleep
• Sleepwalking or somnambulism: Engaging in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness (such as eating or dressing), which may include walking, without the conscious knowledge of the subject
• Snoring: Loud breathing patterns while sleeping, sometimes accompanying sleep apnea

Broad classifications of sleep disorders

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• Dysomnias - A broad category of sleep disorders characterized by either hypersomnolence or insomnia. The three major subcategories include intrinsic (i.e., arising from within the body), extrinsic (secondary to environmental conditions or various pathologic conditions), and disturbances of circadian rhythm. MeSH
  • Insomnia
  • Narcolepsy
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Restless Leg Syndrome
  • Periodic limb movement disorder
  • Hypersomnia
    • Recurrent Hypersomnia - including Kleine-Levin Syndrome
    • Posttraumatic Hypersomnia
    • "Healthy" Hypersomnia
  • Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
    • Delayed sleep phase syndrome
    • Advanced sleep phase syndrome
    • Non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome
• Parasomnias
  • REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder
  • Sleep Terror
  • Sleepwalking (or Somnambulism)
  • Tooth-grinding
  • Bedwetting or sleep enuresis.
  • Sudden infant death syndrome (or SIDS)
  • Sleep talking (or Somniloquy)

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