Non-Rapid Eye Movement Parasomnias: Diagnostic Methods

Sleepwalking (somnambulism) and sleep terrors are known as disorders of arousal, share many characteristics, and constitute 2 of the most frequent and impressive non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep parasomnias. This article presents key considerations in the assessment and diagnosis of NREM arousal parasomnias. The use of sleep deprivation before polysomnographic investigations can help capture episodes in the sleep laboratory. Auditory-based forced arousals from patients' slow wave sleep may also induce episodes. These and other investigative tools, including brain imaging, may pave the way toward a better understanding of disorders of arousal.