What are the clinical symptoms suggestive of narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a chronic disorder of hypersomnia in which there are sudden onsets of sleep episodes or “sleep attacks” that can be associated with
- cataplexy
- sleep paralysis
- hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations
- disrupted nighttime sleep.
The diagnosis of narcolepsy (type 1 and type 2) should be confirmed whenever possible by a PSG followed by an MSLT.
In addition, the hypersomnia is not better explained by another sleep disorder, medical or neurologic disorder, psychiatric disorder, medication use, or substance abuse.
