concept

hypersomnia

Also known as: hypersomnolence

Facts (19)

Sources

Extent and Health Consequences of Chronic Sleep Loss and ... - NCBI ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Colten HR, Altevogt BM · National Academies Press 17 facts

claimMedication prescribed for a psychiatric disorder can exacerbate a comorbid sleep disorder, such as when sedating antidepressants are prescribed to patients with hypersomnolence.

claimPeriodic limb movements are observed in individuals with narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and hypersomnia.

claimIndividuals with periodic limb movement disorder primarily complain of difficulty with sleep onset, sleep maintenance, insomnia, and/or hypersomnia.

claimSecondary cases of narcolepsy or hypersomnia can occur in the context of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression), central nervous system tumors (notably in the hypothalamus), neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease), inflammatory disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis or paraneoplastic syndromes), traumatic disorders (e.g., head trauma), vascular disorders (e.g., median thalamic stroke), and genetic disorders (e.g., myotonic dystrophy or Prader-Willi syndrome).

measurementIn most sleep disorders clinics with experience in the area, approximately one-third of hypersomnia cases are diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time.

claimKlein-Levin syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of dramatic hypersomnia lasting from 2 days to several weeks.

claimSleeping sickness is characterized by episodes of nocturnal insomnia and daytime sleep, but not hypersomnia.

claimNumerous medical conditions are associated with sleep disorders, including insomnia, hypersomnia, parasomnias, and sleep-related movement disorders.

claimMedication prescribed for one disorder may exacerbate a comorbid disorder, such as the prescription of sedating antidepressants for patients with hypersomnolence.

claimTreatments for hypersomnia are not always as effective following a stroke, according to Bassetti (2005).

referenceB. Roth reviewed and classified 642 personally observed cases of narcolepsy and hypersomnia in a 1976 study published in Schweizer Archiv fur Neurologie, Neurochirurgie und Psychiatrie.

measurementAmong individuals diagnosed with hypersomnia, the prevalence of a psychiatric disorder is 46.5 percent.

procedureIt is essential to exclude secondary causes, such as head trauma or hypersomnia resulting from depression, when diagnosing idiopathic hypersomnia, as noted by Roth (1976) and Billiard and Dauvilliers (2001).

claimSleep disturbances, including insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia), and parasomnia, are common features of psychiatric disorders and are listed as diagnostic criteria in the DSM-IV (APA, 1994).

claimNarcolepsy and hypersomnia can affect children, adolescents, adults, and older persons, with most cases beginning in adolescence.

referenceMignot et al. (2002) established that cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin measurement is a relevant diagnostic tool for narcolepsy and other hypersomnias.

referenceBilliard et al. (1994) explored the association between hypersomnia and mood disorders.

How Much Sleep Do You Need? - Sleep Foundation sleepfoundation.org Sleep Foundation Jul 11, 2025 1 fact

referencePreda, A. & Bowman, D. R. published 'Primary hypersomnia workup' on Medscape on September 5, 2018.

[PDF] PSYCHOPATHOLOGY HANDBOOK - NCRTM ncrtm.ed.gov National Center for Research Resources and Training Materials 1 fact

claimAltered sleep is defined as any disruption of the normative 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, which includes conditions such as insomnia, hypersomnia, early morning awakening, and night terrors.