In 100 consecutive adults who came to a sleep disorders center
complaining of repeated nocturnal injury, polysomnographic study identified
five disorders: night terrors/sleepwalking (N = 54), REM sleep behavior
disorder (N = 36), dissociative disorders (N = 7), nocturnal seizures (N =
2), and sleep apnea (N = 1). Ninety-five patients sustained ecchymoses, 30
had lacerations, and nine had fractures. DSM-III axis I disorders (past or
current) were found in 48.1% of the group with night terrors/sleepwalking
and in 30.6% of the group with REM sleep behavior disorder; these were
mainly affective disorders. In these two groups, clonazepam controlled the
symptoms of 51 of the 61 patients to whom it was given.Abstract Teaser