Which sleep disorders may be confused with epileptic seizures?
- 1. REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)
- 2. Sleepwalking and other parasomnias
- 3. Rhythmic movement disorder (head banging, body rocking)
A detailed clinical history may be helpful in identifying the type of sleep behavior as this will help direct therapy.
For example, night terrors tend to occur during the first third or half of the night during N3 sleep, while seizures may occur throughout the night and occur during the daytime.
An overnight PSG with expanded EEG montage to record and precisely characterize the behavior may be indicated to make a correct diagnosis.
