Abstract | INTRODUCTION: The purpose of our study is to describe 4 cases of sexsomnia, a form of parasomnia characterised by sexual behaviour during sleep. METHODS: Clinical history and video-polysomnography recordings from patients diagnosed with sexsomnia in the Multidisciplinary Sleep Unit at Hospital Clínic in Barcelona. RESULTS: Three men and one woman between 28 and 43 years of age reported sexual behaviours during sleep with progression times ranging from 9 months to 7 years. Episodes consisted of masturbation without seeking the participation of a sleeping partner (2 cases) and attempts at sexual intercourse with inappropriate and uncharacteristic vocalizations and behaviours (3 cases). The frequency of the episodes ranged from 4 isolated episodes to 2-3 per week. Patients were amnestic of these events and surprised by their partners' accounts of their behaviour. Medical histories revealed that 1 patient was a somnambulist, 2 had confusional arousals, and 1 experienced somniloquy. Video-polysomnography did not disclose sexual behaviours during sleep but revealed sleep apnoea in 2 cases and periodic leg movements in sleep in another. The only patient treated with clonazepam reported decreased frequency of both confusional arousals and sexsomnia episodes. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | H Ariño, A Iranzo, C Gaig, J Santamaria |
Journal | Neurologia (Barcelona, Spain)
(Neurologia)
Vol. 29
Issue 3
Pg. 146-52
(Apr 2014)
ISSN: 1578-1968 [Electronic] Spain |
PMID | 23664055
(Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2012 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved. |
Topics |
- Adult
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Parasomnias
(psychology)
- Polysomnography
- Sexual Behavior
(psychology)
- Sleep Wake Disorders
(psychology)
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