Select a Community
Are you sure you want to trigger topic in your Anconeus AI algorithm?
You are done for today with this topic.
Would you like to start learning session with this topic items scheduled for future?
Stimulants are the cornerstone of treatment
7%
3/43
Patients may benefit from taking scheduled naps throughout the day
12%
5/43
Patients may experience hallucinations either when going to sleep, OR when waking up
9%
4/43
Selective serotonin uptake inhibitors may be helpful in patients without cataplexy
53%
23/43
Polysomnography is often helpful for diagnosis
16%
7/43
Select Answer to see Preferred Response
This patient's clinical presentation is consistent with narcolepsy, and selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be helpful in patients with cataplexy. Narcolepsy has four major characteristics: (1) rapid, non-preventable transition to sleep during the daytime, (2) onset of REM sleep within several minutes of sleep start, (3) hallucinations while going to sleep or waking up, and (4) sleep paralysis. In addition, some patients also suffer from cataplexy, which presents as "drop attacks," when experiencing strong emotion. Although the cornerstone of treatment for most patients includes stimulants and scheduled, daytime napping, patients with cataplexy may benefit from additional treatment with an SSRI. Pagel discusses excessive daytime sleepiness. He notes that most cases of excessive daytime sleepiness are secondary to a general psychiatric or medical condition, but narcolepsy is the most prevalent primary hypersomnia disorder. Approximately 30% of patients with narcolepsy exhibit cataplexy. Andlauer et al. evaluate the use of a single REM latency test for diagnosis of narcolepsy. The current gold standard for diagnosis necessitates a full night sleep study, called a "Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)." The authors find that if a patient's first REM latency is shorter than normal, they need not undergo a full MSLT for diagnosis of narcolepsy. However, if the REM latency is normal, a full MSLT may be needed to observe pathological sleep behavior. Incorrect Answers: Answer 1: Stimulants, such as methylphenidate or modafinil, are the cornerstone of treatment. Answer 2: Scheduled naps are often helpful for patients with narcolepsy. Answer 3: Patients with narcolepsy exhibit hallucinations while going to sleep (hypnogogic) or waking up (hypnopompic). Answer 5: A mean sleep latency time of less than 5 minutes during polysomnography is suggestive of narcolepsy.
3.0
(2)
Please Login to add comment