Narcolepsy, Cataplexy, and Sleep Paralysis

In this chapter, sleep and movement abnormalities characteristic of narcolepsy are described, followed by discussions on the possible mechanisms involved. This is where narcolepsy is characterized by “excessive daytime sleepiness that is typically associated with cataplexy (i.e., narcolepsy with cataplexy) and/or with abnormal rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phenomena such as sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations. Since the abnormalities seen in narcolepsy cannot be explained independently from occurrences of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and sleep fragmentations, pathophysiological aspects of these symptoms are also discussed.