Hypersomnia is
excessive sleepiness. It is an excessively deep or prolonged major
sleep period. It may be associated with difficulty in awakening. It
is believed to be caused by the central nervous system and can be
associated with a normal or prolonged major sleep episode and excessive
sleepiness consisting of prolonged (1-2 hours) sleep episodes of non-REM
sleep and is characterized by:
Long sleep periods.
Excessive
sleepiness or excessively deep sleep.
The onset
is insidious (gradually, so you are not aware of it at first).
Typically
appears before age 25.
Has been
present for at lest six months.
A person with
hypersomnia may sleep up to twelve hours a night, and still need frequent
daytime naps. If the condition is diagnosed as recurrent hypersomnia,
this is also called Kleine-Levin Syndrome.
Idiopathic hypersomnia
is much like narcolepsy, except there
is no cataplexy, no sleep paralysis, and no rapid eye movement when
the victim first falls asleep.
Hypersomnia is
one of the symptoms of major depression.
In fact, people who are suffering from clinical depression may suffer
from either insomnia (inability to fall asleep) or hypersomnia (excessive
sleep) nearly every day. Bi-polar patients
may also experience hypersomnia during depressive
periods.
In between the
symptomatic periods, the patients have normal sleep requirements and
do not have excessive daytime sleepiness. Some patients may develop
symptoms of irritability, impulsive
behavior, depersonalization,
hallucinations, depression, and
confusion.
Associated Features:
Headaches, which
may be Migrainous in quality.
Fainting Episodes
Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis may be encountered
occasionally.
Differential
Diagnosis:
Some disorders have similar symptoms. The clinician, therefore, in
his diagnostic attempt , has to differentiate against the following
disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.
Depression
Narcolepsy
Sleep Apnea
Cause:
Primary hypersomnia
is an idiopathic disorder and it's etiology is not known. Although
head injury or viral infections can cause a disorder resembling primary
hypersomnia.. No genetic, environmental, or other predisposition has
been identified.
Treatment:
Since the cause is still unknown,
treatment consists of behavioral changes, good sleep hygiene and taking
stimulants to help you be more alert. Limit your naps to one (preferably
in the afternoon) lasting no longer than 45 minutes. Get at least
81/2 hours of sleep. Avoid shiftwork, alcohol and caffeine.
Counseling
and Psychotherapy [ See
Therapy Section ]:
Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy to assist the patient adopt behavioral change strategies.
Pharmacotherapy
[ See Psychopharmacology
Section ] :
