Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (180)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Olson, E. J.
Right arrow Articles by Silber, M. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Olson, E. J.
Right arrow Articles by Silber, M. H.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Brain, Vol. 123, No. 2, 331-339, February 2000
© 2000 Oxford University Press

Rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder: demographic, clinical and laboratory findings in 93 cases

Eric J. Olson1,2, Bradley F. Boeve1,3 and Michael H. Silber1,3

1 Sleep Disorders Center, 2 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and 3 Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Correspondence to: Michael H. Silber, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA E-mail: msilber{at}mayo.edu


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
We describe demographic, clinical, laboratory and aetiological findings in 93 consecutive patients with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), which consists of excessive motor activity during dreaming in association with loss of skeletal muscle atonia of REM sleep. The patients were seen at the Mayo Sleep Disorders Center between January 1, 1991 and July 31, 1995. Eighty-one patients (87%) were male. The mean age of RBD onset was 60.9 years (range 36–84 years) and the mean age at presentation was 64.4 years (37–85 years). Thirty-two per cent of patients had injured themselves and 64% had assaulted their spouses. Subdural haematomas occurred in two patients. Dream content was altered and involved defence of the sleeper against attack in 87%. The frequency of nocturnal events decreased with time in seven untreated patients with neurodegenerative disease. MRI or CT head scans were performed in 56% of patients. Although four scans showed brainstem pathology, all of these patients had apparently unrelated neurodegenerative diseases known to be associated with RBD. Neurological disorders were present in 57% of patients; Parkinson's disease, dementia without parkinsonism and multiple system atrophy accounted for all but 14% of these. RBD developed before parkinsonism in 52% of the patients with Parkinson's disease. Five of the 14 patients with multiple system atrophy were female, and thus the strong male predominance in RBD is less evident in this condition. Psychiatric disorders, drug use or drug withdrawal were rarely causally related to RBD. Clonazepam treatment of RBD was completely or partially successful in 87% of the patients who used the drug. We conclude that RBD is a well-defined condition and that descriptions from different centres are fairly consistent. It is commonest in elderly males and may result in serious morbidity to patients and bed partners. There is a strong relationship to neurodegenerative disease, especially Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy and dementia, and neurologists should explore the possibility of RBD in patients with these conditions. RBD symptoms may be the first manifestations of these disorders and careful follow-up is needed. Neuroimaging is unlikely to reveal underlying disorders not suspected clinically. We confirm the effectiveness of clonazepam, but note that attention to the safety of the bed environment may be sufficient for patients with contraindications to the drug.

REM sleep behaviour disorder; Parkinson's disease; dementia; dreams

RBD = REM sleep behaviour disorder; MSLT = Multiple Sleep Latency Test; PSG = polysomnography; REM = rapid eye movement


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Rapid eye movement (REM ) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is characterized by loss of the normal voluntary muscle atonia during REM sleep, associated with excessive motor activity while dreaming (Mahowald and Schenck, 1994Go). Behaviours result frequently in injuries to the patient or sleeping partner (Schenck and Mahowald, 1990Go). Japanese investigators first described the condition in patients with alcohol withdrawal, using the term `stage I-REM with tonic EMG' (Tachibana et al., 1975Go). Similar findings were reported in patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy (Shimizu et al., 1981; Quera Salva and Guilleminault, 1986Go), and later work has confirmed the association with neurodegenerative disorders (Schenck and Mahowald, 1996aGo). A model of RBD in cats (Hendricks et al., 1982Go) indicates that bilateral pontine tegmental lesions of varying sizes and locations can produce paradoxical (REM) sleep behaviours, ranging from minimal movements to violent attack behaviour.

Much of our knowledge of the human disorder comes from the case series of Schenck and colleagues (Schenck and Mahowald, 1990Go, 1996aGo; Schenck et al., 1993Go), who first named the condition (Schenck et al., 1986Go, 1987Go). Apart from a brief description in a review article of a series of 52 patients (Sforza et al., 1997Go), no other large general series of cases of RBD has been published. We thus felt that a report of our centre's experience would be of interest and describe here the demographic, clinical and laboratory findings in 93 patients with RBD. Our aims were to confirm or refute the features of RBD described by Schenck and colleagues, and in particular, to examine the relationship between RBD and neurological disease.


    Patients and methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
All patients with a diagnosis of RBD seen at the Mayo Sleep Disorders Center between January 1, 1991 and July 31, 1995 were identified from the Mayo Clinic computerized record system. RBD was defined according to standard criteria (Mahowald and Schenck, 1994Go) (excessive phasic or tonic EMG activity during recorded REM sleep, a history of injurious or disruptive sleep behaviour or documentation of abnormal behaviour during REM sleep in the laboratory, and an absence of EEG epileptiform activity during REM sleep). The study was approved by the Mayo Institutional Review Board.

Records were reviewed and the data recorded and tabulated. As this was a retrospective study, complete information was not always available for each patient; where information was incomplete the patient denominator is noted in the results. Historical data was compiled from a standard sleep questionnaire completed by all patients and a history elicited by a physician at the initial consultation. Polysomnography (PSG) was performed according to a standard clinical protocol with recording of EEG (a minimum of the following three derivations: Fz–Cz, Cz–Oz, C3–A2, but often with additional derivations to assess for epileptiform activity), EOG, ECG, oronasal airflow, thoracoabdominal movement by impedance plethysmography, upper airway sound and oxyhaemoglobin saturation. All patients had surface EMG recorded from submental and anterior tibial muscles, and the majority also from the extensor digitorum communis muscles. Data were recorded either on analogue polygraphs or on digital equipment. Split-screen or time synchronized video recordings were performed. When sleep disordered breathing was noted, a split-night protocol was followed, with nasal continuous positive airway pressure applied in the second half of the study. Scoring of sleep stages followed standard methods (Rechtschaffen and Kales, 1968Go).

Eighty-three patients (89%) underwent neurological examinations. Associated neurological disorders were diagnosed clinically by consultant neurologists at the clinic; the authors reassessed the diagnoses during the record review. In general, a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease required two or more extrapyramidal signs (rest tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability) with a therapeutic response to levodopa. Multiple system atrophy was diagnosed according to standard criteria (Consensus Committee of the American Autonomic Society and the American Academy of Neurology, 1996Go). Dementia was diagnosed following neuropsychometric testing. A diagnosis of narcolepsy required the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) to confirm excessive daytime sleepiness in association with either a history of cataplexy, or two or more sleep-onset REM sleep periods on the MSLT. Twenty-seven patients were assessed by psychiatrists or psychologists at the Clinic because of suspicion of psychiatric illness, and active diagnoses were based on their opinions. Past psychiatric diagnoses were based on the patients' history. It was not possible to apply formal psychiatric criteria retrospectively.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Demographic features (Table 1Go)
Gender and age distributions are summarized in Table 1Go. Seventy-one patients (76%) resided outside Minnesota. A past history of parasomnias (all sleep walking) was obtained in five of 74 patients (7%).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1 Demographic details and numbers or percentages of patients showing various clinical features of RBD
 
Clinical features (Table 1Go)
In 92 patients, abnormal nocturnal behaviour was reported by observers to occur at home. In one patient, however, such behaviour was observed only during PSG. Nocturnal events were reported to occur between once every 3 months and several times a night. Information about changes in the frequency of events was available in 49 patients; the frequency remained stable in 26, increased in 16 and decreased in seven patients prior to the administration of therapy. All seven with decreasing frequency had a neurodegenerative disease (three multiple system atrophy, three Parkinson's disease and one dementia; 26% of patients with neurodegenerative disease).

In all but 10 patients the abnormal behaviours occurred in bed or resulted in falling out of bed. The most common behaviours consisted of flailing and punching the arms, kicking and vocalization. The remaining 10 patients (11%) at times exhibited sleep walking or nocturnal wandering in addition to the more typical activities in bed. Thirty patients (32%) reported injuries to themselves during sleep (17 while falling out of bed, 15 by striking or bumping into furniture or walls). Injuries included lacerations or ecchymoses to the head or face in at least 10 patients, while other injuries involved the limbs or trunk. One patient lacerated his hands grabbing venetian blinds, one patient kicked a hole in the bedroom wall and one attempted to leap through a window. Also, one patient fired an unloaded gun, while another attempted to set fire to his bed. Subdural haematomas occurred in two patients, one related to motor activity in sleep and one of uncertain cause in a patient with Parkinson's disease. Fifty-three spouses (64% of 83 patients with sleeping partners) reported being assaulted; 13 reported injuries caused by punching, slapping, kicking, pulling of hair and attempted strangulation (two spouses). One spouse required dental work, one was injured by a falling vase and one by a falling picture. Twelve spouses (15%) chose to sleep in separate rooms and one patient constructed a plywood barrier to separate himself from his wife. Sixty-two of 67 patients reported dreams associated with motor activity and 37 patients reported dream content (see Table 1Go). Fifty-seven of 82 patients (63%) reported excessive daytime sleepiness.

Laboratory findings
Brain imaging was obtained in 52 patients (CT scan in 24 patients, MRI scan in 39 patients). Reasons for imaging in all patients were known or suspected neurological disease other than RBD (see Table 2Go).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2 Imaging features of the patients imaged (n = 52)
 
All patients underwent PSG (see Table 3Go), 68 with full night diagnostic PSGs and 25 with split-night protocols in which the second half of the night was devoted to a trial of nasal positive airway pressure. Ninety of 93 PSGs showed increased phasic or tonic EMG activity in REM sleep. In the remaining three PSGs, ambiguous sleep with REMs intruding into non-REM sleep without atonia was seen, but no sustained periods of REM sleep. Two of these patients had parkinsonism and dementia, and one dementia alone. Abnormal gross motor behaviour was recorded on videotape in 42 patients (45%). Unilateral temporal epileptiform spike or sharp wave discharges in non-REM sleep were seen in two patients. One had a past history of encephalitis with clinical seizures different from the RBD activity and one had dementia without clinical epilepsy. Of the 10 patients with histories of sleep walking in addition to abnormal motor activity in bed, gross motor activity was recorded only during REM sleep in five. Two patients showed both confusional arousals from slow wave sleep and increased muscle tone in REM sleep, and three others showed only increased muscle tone in REM sleep without recording of abnormal behaviour. Five of the 10 patients had underlying neurodegenerative diseases.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 3 PSG findings of all patients (n = 93)
 
MSLTs were performed in eight patients. A mean initial sleep latency <8 min was found in three patients, two with narcolepsy and one with Parkinson's disease. Sleep onset REM sleep was seen in three patients, two with narcolepsy and one believed due to withdrawal of imipramine prior to the MSLT.

Associated illnesses (Table 4Go)
CNS disease occurred in 53 patients (57% of the total number; 64% of the 83 who underwent neurological examination). Thirteen of the patients with dementia have been reported as part of another study (Boeve et al., 1998Go). Of the 25 patients with Parkinson's disease, RBD symptoms preceded those of Parkinson's disease in 13 (52%) by a median of 3 years (range 1–30 years), occurred simultaneously in two and followed onset of Parkinson's disease symptoms in 10 by a median of 3 years (range 0.5–15 years). One patient with an initial diagnosis of idiopathic RBD subsequently developed Parkinson's disease 18 months later. RBD preceded the onset of dementia in five of seven patients with dementia alone by a median of 3 years (range 1–12 years). Thirty of the 32 patients with Parkinson's disease, dementia or both were male. Of the 14 patients with multiple system atrophy, RBD preceded onset of multiple system atrophy symptoms in five by a median of 4 years (range 1–11 years). Five of the 14 patients with multiple system atrophy were female (43%; {chi}2 test comparing gender in multiple system atrophy versus Parkinson's disease and/or dementia, P = 0.007). One of the four patients with narcolepsy was female, and thus eight of 12 female patients with RBD had underlying neurological disease (67%), compared with 44 of 81 male patients (54%) (P = 0.38).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 4 Associated neurological disorders of patients (n = 53)
 
Twenty-four patients (25.8%) had lifetime histories of psychiatric disorders, including affective disorders (10), substance abuse (9), anxiety disorder (4) and personality disorders (3). In one of two patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, RBD commenced 20 years after the post-traumatic stress disorder had resolved; the relationship was uncertain in the other patient. Of eight patients with alcohol abuse, RBD symptomatology commenced while alcohol use was continuing in six and during abstinence in one (20 years after cessation); the relationship was uncertain in one patient. Three of the eight patients had degenerative CNS disease. One patient developed two episodes of RBD after sudden withdrawal from high dose barbiturate use. Fourteen patients used tricyclic or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor anti-depressants. Of the 11 patients with adequate information, RBD commenced before use of these drugs in nine patients, while using the medication in one (who also had Parkinson's disease) and at about the same time that medication (amitriptyline) commenced in one patient.

Management
Clonazepam was prescribed in 57 out of 93 patients (61%) in doses of 0.25–1.5 mg before sleep. Of 38 patients on clonazepam therapy for whom information was available (mean follow-up 23.7 months), the medication was completely successful in 21 (55%), partially successful in 12 (32%) and unsuccessful in five (13%). Nine patients reported early morning sedation, which was usually dose related. Two patients developed early morning motor incoordination, which resolved either spontaneously or with dose adjustment. One patient developed impotence, necessitating discontinuation of the drug. Triazolam was used by two patients, with complete success in one and uncertain results in the other. Clozapine was used by two patients with dementia in whom clonazepam had failed; RBD resolved completely in one patient and partially in the other. No medication was used in 34 patients (37%), because the symptoms were judged to be mild in 20, concomitant obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome or nocturnal stridor was present in six, the symptoms had diminished as underlying neurological disease had progressed or resolved in four and because of patient refusal in four.


    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Clinical, demographic and laboratory features
Many of our findings confirm descriptions of RBD by Schenck and colleagues (Schenck and Mahowald, 1990Go, 1996aGo; Schenck et al., 1993Go). Although our centre is also in Minnesota, 76% of our patients lived outside the state and, to the best of our knowledge, only one of our patients had been seen at the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center. The mean age of onset was 60.9 years, slightly older than the 52.4 years reported by Schenck and colleagues (Schenck et al., 1993Go). Eighty-seven per cent of our patients were male, strikingly similar to the 87.5% found by Schenck and colleagues (Schenck et al., 1993Go). The reason for the male preponderance is unknown, but androgenic hormonal influences have been suggested (Goldstein, 1974Go; Mahowald and Schenck, 1994Go). Our data show that this gender effect is preserved in RBD associated with Parkinson's disease and dementia, but not in RBD associated with multiple system atrophy. These results are in keeping with the lack of gender effect reported in a study of 27 patients with multiple system atrophy and RBD (Plazzi et al., 1997Go). A careful assessment for multiple system atrophy should be made in female patients presenting with RBD.

Forty-five per cent of our patients demonstrated gross abnormal motor behaviour in REM sleep during their night in the laboratory. Despite demonstration of definite increases in muscle tone during REM sleep or ambiguous sleep in the remainder, the question arises whether the nocturnal motor behaviour described at home was due to RBD or to a non-REM arousal parasomnia. In a series of 54 patients with histories of violent sleepwalking (49 associated with abnormal arousals from slow wave sleep on PSG), 10.2% were also found to have abnormal muscle twitching during REM sleep (Schenck et al., 1989Go). A patient with Machado–Joseph disease was shown to have episodes of nocturnal wandering from non-REM sleep as well as violent outbursts of kicking, thrashing and yelling arising from REM sleep (Kushida et al., 1995Go). These and other descriptions (Bokey, 1993Go; Guilleminault et al., 1995Go) have led to the concept of an `overlap syndrome' with features of both REM and non-REM parasomnias (Schenck et al., 1997aGo). Sleepwalking or nocturnal wandering behaviour was described in only 10 of our patients. Of these, two clearly had an overlap syndrome with both confusional arousals recorded from slow wave sleep and increased muscle tone in REM sleep. The other eight patients may well also fall into this category, although abnormal motor behaviour in bed was recorded only during REM sleep in five. The remaining 83 patients were all either observed in the home or laboratory to exhibit behaviour typical of RBD—thrashing, kicking, vocalization in bed or falling on to the floor. However, we cannot be certain that some of those in whom only increased muscle tone was recorded in the laboratory may also have had confusional arousals from non-REM sleep at home.

RBD patients have a high propensity for serious injury to themselves or others; 32% of our patients injured themselves, while 64% of sleeping partners reported being assaulted. Others have also reported subdural haematomas (Gross, 1992Go; Dyken et al., 1995Go) and attempted strangulation of a sleeping partner (Schenck et al., 1989Go). Seven per cent of patients in the case series of Schenck and colleagues suffered fractures (Schenck et al., 1993Go). In contrast to sleep walking, homicide associated with RBD has not been reported (Mahowald et al., 1990Go). In 26% of our patients with RBD associated with neurodegenerative disease, the frequency of clinical nocturnal events decreased with time; in four of seven such patients treatment was not deemed necessary at all. However, increased muscle tone during REM sleep persisted on PSG. Activation of brainstem locomotor centres, in addition to loss of atonia, appears to be necessary for the vigorous motor activity of RBD (Hendricks et al., 1982Go; Lai and Siegal, 1990) and we thus hypothesize that this decrease in frequency may reflect progressive degeneration of these centres by the primary disease. This finding contrasts with the experience of Schenck and Mahowald who reported that no case of spontaneous remission was identified in their case series (Schenck and Mahowald, 1990Go).

Does dream content change in patients who develop RBD? Patients certainly report that it does, with our data indicating that aggressive themes comprise 89% of the recalled dreams. In contrast, a study of 1320 dreams of educated adults (Hall, 1951Go) revealed that subjects reported hostile acts by or against the dreamer in 34%, of which only about one-third involved physical acts of aggression. In the same study, only 34% of 2668 actions in 1000 dreams involved movements, such as walking and running. Despite their violent character, the most common theme of dreams in patients with RBD was defence of the sleeper against attack and only 2% of dreams involved the patient as the aggressor.

Sixty-three per cent of our patients reported excessive daytime sleepiness, but other possible causes or associated conditions could explain sleepiness in the majority. The mean initial MSLT latency in 40 non-narcoleptic patients with RBD has been reported as 12.5 min, with only 10% having mean latencies of <5 min (Schenck and Mahowald, 1990Go). Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome was more common among our patients than those of Schenck and Mahowald, who found 14.6% of their group of 96 patients had more than five obstructive sleep apnoeas or hypopnoeas per hour (Schenck and Mahowald, 1992bGo). These differences may be explained by the slightly older age of our patients and the possibility that suspected obstructive sleep apnoea triggered referral in some, but we think the suggestion that RBD may protect against obstructive sleep apnoea (Schenck and Mahowald, 1992bGo) unlikely to be correct. Periodic limb movements are common, occurring in 47% of our patients (periodic limb movement index >20/h), and in 59% of the series of Schenck and colleagues (Schenk et al., 1993). A periodic limb movement index >20/h has been reported in 20% of normal subjects older than 65 years (Ancoli-Israel et al., 1991Go).

Imaging of the brain in 52 of our patients showed changes compatible with age or underlying disease. Only four patients had brainstem pathology and all four of these patients also had an unrelated neurodegenerative disorder known to be associated with RBD. MRI scans of 42 patients with RBD were reported to show clinically significant abnormalities in 14.6% (brainstem astrocytoma, multiple infarcts and severe cerebral atrophy) and non-specific areas of increased T2-signal in deep white matter in 46% (Schenck and Mahowald, 1990Go). Areas of increased signal intensity on the MRI scans of six patients with RBD, aged 64–74 years, were reported in the periventricular white matter in five patients and in the pontine tegmentum in three (Culebras and Moore, 1989Go). However, without control cases in an elderly population, the clinical significance of areas of increased T2-signal on MRI scans is uncertain.

Our PSG findings were similar to those reported by others (Lapierre and Montplaisir, 1992Go; Schenck et al., 1992aGo). The ambiguous sleep noted in three patients with neurodegenerative diseases is similar to the sleep state dissociation reported in patients with olivopontocerebellar degeneration, narcolepsy and other conditions (Mahowald and Schenck, 1992Go). Schenck and colleagues have reported that 80% of their RBD patients older than 58 years have an elevated percentage of stages 3 and 4 of non-REM sleep, defined as >15% of total sleep time (Schenck et al., 1993Go). We found similar findings in 33% of our patients older than 58 years. Although this is certainly higher than found in studies of normal older subjects (Reynolds et al., 1985Go), it should be noted that our laboratory uses a modification of standard criteria (Rechtschaffen and Kales, 1968Go) in the scoring of slow wave sleep (amplitude criterion of >50 µV), which may artificially increase the slow wave percentage.

Associated disorders
As experience with RBD has increased, a high percentage of patients with associated neurological disease has been noted. In 1990, Schenck and Mahowald reported that 37.5% of 64 cases had neurological disease (Schenck and Mahowald, 1990Go); in a 1996 report of their extended series of 148 cases this had increased to 52% (Schenck and Mahowald, 1996). Fifty-seven per cent of our patients had associated neurological disorders, a figure similar to the 53% of all cases reported in the world literature up to 1996 (Schenck and Mahowald, 1996aGo). Selection bias may have resulted in inflation of these percentages, as all case series have been reported from academic institutions with a greater likelihood of seeing patients with serious neurological disease. No community-based studies of RBD have been reported. All but seven of our neurological patients had neurodegenerative disorders, the majority being idiopathic Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy or dementia. We have elsewhere described our experience with RBD and dementia (Boeve, 1998; Ferman et al., 1999Go) and have hypothesized that the majority of these patients are likely to have dementia with Lewy bodies. Autopsies have confirmed Lewy body disease or the Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease in three cases (Schenck et al., 1997bGo; Boeve et al., 1998Go). Clearly, further pathological data are required to delineate more exactly the significance of a lack of REM sleep muscle atonia in dementia. Motor dyscontrol in REM sleep has been described in 90% of patients with multiple system atrophy (Plazzi et al., 1997Go; Tachibana et al., 1997Go) and clinical RBD in 69% (Plazzi et al., 1997Go). Of 61 patients with Parkinson's disease, 15% were reported to fulfil clinical criteria for RBD (Comella et al., 1998Go). Other associations reported in case reports include brainstem tumours (Schenck et al., 1993Go), cerebrovascular disease (Culebras and Moore, 1989Go; Schenck and Mahowald, 1996aGo) and cortical basal ganglionic degeneration (Kimura et al., 1997Go). Two of our patients had prior encephalitis and one progressive supranuclear palsy. Thus, although RBD may result from a wide range of neurological problems, the majority of patients with an underlying disorder of the brain are likely to have one of a limited number of neurodegenerative disorders. The single prominent exception is narcolepsy (Schenck and Mahowald, 1992aGo), although the frequency of RBD in this condition has not been determined.

In many cases of neurodegenerative disease, RBD may precede other symptoms of the disorder, often by years (Silber and Ahlskog, 1992Go; Tison et al., 1995Go; Tan et al., 1996Go; Plazzi et al., 1997Go; Sforza et al., 1997Go; Turner et al., 1997Go). Parkinsonism developed in 38% of 29 older males initially diagnosed with idiopathic RBD, a mean of 12.7 years after onset of RBD symptoms and a mean of 3.7 years after RBD diagnosis (Schenck et al., 1996Go). Lewy body abnormalities have been found at autopsy in a neurologically normal patient thought to have idiopathic RBD (Uchiyama et al., 1995Go). Our retrospective data indicate that RBD symptoms were the first manifestation of Parkinson's disease, dementia or multiple system atrophy in 23 of 46 patients (50%), with RBD developing a median of 3–4 years before other symptoms. Careful neurological follow-up of patients with apparent idiopathic RBD is indicated.

Lifetime histories of psychiatric disease were obtained in 25.8% of our patients, a figure similar to the 35% noted by Schenck and Mahowald (Schenck and Mahowald, 1990Go) and no higher than the 29–38% found in the general population (Robins et al., 1984Go). Increased phasic twitching in REM sleep has been reported in post-traumatic stress disorder (Ross et al., 1994Go). Two of our patients had histories of post-traumatic stress disorder; in the one patient in whom the temporal relationship could be determined, RBD was clearly unrelated. Discontinuation of use of REM suppressant agents such as alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine and imipramine (Schenck et al., 1993Go), has been reported to induce RBD. No temporal relationship of cessation of alcohol use to onset of RBD was found in our eight patients with alcohol abuse. One of our patients developed episodes of RBD following barbiturate withdrawal on two occasions (Silber, 1996Go). RBD has occasionally been reported with the use of tricyclic antidepressants (Guilleminault et al., 1976Go; Bental et al.,1979Go) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Schenck et al., 1992bGo). We did not detect a temporal relationship between the use of these medications and the onset of RBD in the majority of our patients who had used them. Thus, although certain drugs and drug withdrawal may induce RBD, considerable care should be taken to establish a clear temporal association before ascribing RBD to these factors.

Management
Our 87% partial or complete success rate in treatment with clonazepam is similar to the 90% success rate reported elsewhere (Schenck et al., 1993Go). A few of our patients appeared to respond to triazolam and clozapine. Clonazepam has been shown to reduce phasic twitching in RBD, but does not re-establish REM atonia (Lapierre and Montplaisir, 1992Go). Although the general safety of clonazepam use has been demonstrated in a population of patients with sleep disorders (Schenck and Mahowald, 1996bGo), benzodiazepines may result in confusion or falls in elderly patients with neurodegenerative diseases (Woods and Winger, 1995Go), or may worsen obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. A minority of our patients developed side-effects, which were usually dose related. We did not use medication in 39% of our patients largely because of these concerns, but did advise improvement in the safety of the sleeping environment by such measures as moving furniture away from the bed and placing a mattress on the floor alongside the bed.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Ancoli-Israel S, Kripke DF, Klauber MR, Mason WJ, Fell R, Kaplan O. Periodic limb movements in sleep in community-dwelling elderly. Sleep 1991; 14: 496–500.[Web of Science][Medline]

Bental E, Lavie P, Sharf B. Severe hypermotility during sleep in treatment of cataplexy with clomipramine. Is J Med Sci 1979; 15: 607–9.[Web of Science][Medline]

Boeve BF, Silber MH, Ferman TJ, Kokmen E, Smith GE, Ivnik RJ, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder and degenerative dementia: an association likely reflecting Lewy body disease. Neurology 1998; 51: 363–70.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Bokey K. Conversion disorder revisited: severe parasomnia discovered. Aust NZ J Psychiatry 1993; 27: 694–8.[Web of Science][Medline]

Comella CL, Nardine TM, Diederich NJ, Stebbins GT. Sleep-related violence, injury, and REM sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson's disease. Neurology 1998; 51: 526–9.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Consensus Committee of the American Autonomic Society and the American Academy of Neurology. Consensus statement on the definition of orthostatic hypotension, pure autonomic failure, and multiple system atrophy. [Review]. Neurology 1996; 46: 1470.[Free Full Text]

Culebras A, Moore JT. Magnetic resonance findings in REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology 1989; 39: 1519–23.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Dyken ME, Lin-Dyken DC, Seaba P, Yamada T. Violent sleep-related behavior leading to subdural hemorrhage. Arch Neurol 1995; 52: 318–21.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Ferman TJ, Boeve BF, Smith GE, Silber MH, Kokmen E, Petersen RC, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder and dementia: cognitive differences when compared with AD. Neurology 1999; 52: 951–7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Goldstein M. Brain research and violent behavior. [Review]. Arch Neurol 1974; 30: 1–35.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Gross PT. REM sleep behavior disorder causing bilateral subdural hematomas [abstract]. Sleep Res 1992; 21: 204.

Guilleminault C, Raynal D, Takahashi S, Carskadon M, Dement W. Evaluation of short-term and long-term treatment of the narcolepsy syndrome with clomipramine hydrochloride. Acta Neurol Scand 1976; 54: 71–87.[Web of Science][Medline]

Guilleminault C, Moscovitch A, Leger D. Forensic sleep medicine: nocturnal wandering and violence. Sleep 1995; 18: 740–8.[Web of Science][Medline]

Hall CS. What people dream about. Scient Am 1951; 184: 60–3.

Hendricks JC, Morrison AR, Mann GL. Different behaviors during paradoxical sleep without atonia depend on the pontine lesion site. Brain Res 1982; 239: 81–105.[Web of Science][Medline]

Kimura K, Tachibana N, Aso T, Kimura J, Shibasaki H. Subclinical REM sleep behavior disorder in a patient with corticobasal degeneration. Sleep 1997; 20: 891–4.[Web of Science][Medline]

Kushida CA, Clerk AA, Kirsch CM, Hotson JR, Guilleminault C. Prolonged confusion with nocturnal wandering arising from NREM and REM sleep: a case report. Sleep 1995; 18: 757–64.[Web of Science][Medline]

Lai YY, Siegel JM. Muscle tone suppression and stepping produced by stimulation of midbrain and rostral pontine reticular formation. J Neurosci 1990; 10: 2727–34.[Abstract]

Lapierre O, Montplaisir J. Polysomnographic features of REM sleep behavior disorder: development of a scoring method. Neurology 1992; 42: 1371–4.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Mahowald MW, Schenck CH. Dissociated states of wakefulness and sleep. [Review]. Neurology 1992; 42 (7 Suppl 6): 44–52.

Mahowald M, Schenck C. REM sleep behavior disorder. In: Kryger M, Roth T, Dement W, editors. Principles and practice of sleep medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 1994. p. 574–88.

Mahowald MW, Bundlie SR, Hurwitz TD, Schenck CH. Sleep violence – forensic science implications: polygraphic and video documentation. J Forensic Sci 1990; 35: 413–32.[Web of Science][Medline]

Plazzi G, Corsini R, Provini F, Pierangeli G, Martinelli P, Montagna P, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder in multiple system atrophy. Neurology 1997; 48: 1094–7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Quera Salva MA, Guilleminault C. Olivopontocerebellar degeneration, abnormal sleep and REM sleep without atonia. Neurology 1986; 36: 576–7.[Abstract]

Rechtschaffen A, Kales A. A manual of standardized terminology, techniques and scoring system for sleep stages of human subjects. Los Angeles: Brain Information Service, Brain Research Institute; 1968.

Reynolds CF 3rd, Kupfer DJ, Taska LS, Hoch CC, Sewitch DE, Spiker DG. Sleep of healthy seniors: a revisit. Sleep 1985; 8: 20–9.[Web of Science][Medline]

Robins LN, Helzer JE, Weissman MM, Orvaschel H, Gruenberg E, Burke JD, et al. Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in three sites. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984; 41: 949–58.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Ross RJ, Ball WA, Dinges DF, Kribbs NB, Morrison AR, Silver SM, et al. Motor dysfunction during sleep in posttraumatic stress disorder. Sleep 1994; 17: 723–32.[Web of Science][Medline]

Schenck C, Mahowald M. A polysomnographic, neurologic, psychiatric and clinical outcome report on 70 consecutive cases with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD): sustained clonazepam efficacy in 89.5% of 57 treated patients. Clev Clin J Med 1990; 57 Suppl: 10–24.

Schenck CH, Mahowald MW. Motor dyscontrol in narcolepsy: rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep without atonia and REM sleep behavior disorder. Ann Neurol 1992a; 32: 3–10.[Web of Science][Medline]

Schenck CH, Mahowald MW. Does REM sleep behavior disorder protect against obstructive sleep apnea? [abstract]. Sleep Res 1992b; 21: 257.

Schenck CH, Mahowald MW. REM sleep parasomnias. [Review]. Neurol Clin 1996a; 14: 697–720.[Web of Science][Medline]

Schenck CH, Mahowald MW. Long-term, nightly benzodiazepine treatment of injurious parasomnias and other disorders of disrupted nocturnal sleep in 170 adults. Am J Med 1996b; 100: 333–7.[Web of Science][Medline]

Schenck CH, Bundlie SR, Ettinger MG, Mahowald MW. Chronic behavioral disorders of human REM sleep: a new category of parasomnia. Sleep 1986; 9: 293–308.[Web of Science][Medline]

Schenck CH, Bundlie SR, Patterson AL, Mahowald MW. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. JAMA 1987; 257: 1786–9.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Schenck CH, Milner DM, Hurwitz TD, Bundlie SR, Mahowald MW. A polysomnographic and clinical report on sleep-related injury in 100 adult patients. Am J Psychiatry 1989; 146: 1166–73.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Schenck CH, Hopwood J, Duncan E, Mahowald MW. Preservation and loss of REM-atonia in human idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD): quantitative polysomnographic (PSG) analyses in 17 patients [abstract]. Sleep Res 1992a; 21: 16.

Schenck CH, Mahowald MW, Kim SW, O'Connor KA, Hurwitz TD. Prominent eye movements during NREM sleep and REM sleep behavior disorder associated with fluoxetine treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sleep 1992b; 15: 226–35.[Web of Science][Medline]

Schenck C, Hurwitz T, Mahowald M. REM sleep behavior disorder: an update on a series of 96 patients and a review of the world literature. J Sleep Res 1993; 2: 224–31.[Web of Science][Medline]

Schenck CH, Bundlie SR, Mahowald MW. Delayed emergence of a parkinsonian disorder in 38% of 29 older men initially diagnosed with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder. Neurology 1996; 46: 388–93.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Schenck CH, Boyd JL, Mahowald MW. A parasomnia overlap disorder involving sleepwalking, sleep terrors, and REM sleep behavior disorder in 33 polysomnographically confirmed cases. [Review]. Sleep 1997a; 20: 972–81.[Web of Science][Medline]

Schenck CH, Mahowald MW, Anderson ML, Silber MH, Boeve BF, Parisi JE. Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease (AD) identified by postmortem ubiquitin staining in a previously reported case of AD associated with REM sleep behavior disorder [letter]. Biol Psychiatry 1997b; 42: 527–8.[Web of Science][Medline]

Sforza E, Krieger J, Petiau C. REM sleep behavior disorder: clinical and physiopathological findings. Sleep Med Rev 1997; 1: 57–69.

Shimizu T, Sugita Y, Teshima Y, Hishikawa Y. Sleep study in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration and related diseases. In: Koella WP, editor. Sleep 1980. Basel: S. Karger; 1981. p. 435–7.

Silber MH. REM sleep behavior disorder associated with barbiturate withdrawal [abstract]. Sleep Res 1996; 25: 371.

Silber MH, Ahlskog JE. REM sleep behavior disorder in parkinsonian syndromes [abstract]. Sleep Res 1992; 21: 313.

Tachibana M, Tanaka K, Hishikawa Y, Kaneko Z. A sleep study of acute psychotic states due to alcohol and meprobamate addiction. Adv Sleep Res 1975; 2: 177–205.

Tachibana N, Kimura K, Kitajima K, Shinde A, Kimura J, Shibasaki H. REM sleep motor dysfunction in multiple system atrophy: with special emphasis on sleep talk as its early clinical manifestation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1997; 63: 678–81.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Tan A, Salgado M, Fahn S. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder preceding Parkinson's disease with therapeutic response to levodopa. Mov Disord 1996; 11: 214–6.[Web of Science][Medline]

Tison F, Wenning GK, Quinn NP, Smith SJ. REM sleep behaviour disorder as the presenting symptom of multiple system atrophy [letter]. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1995; 58: 379–80.

Turner RS, Chervin RD, Frey KA, Minoshima S, Kuhl DE. Probable diffuse Lewy body disease presenting as REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology 1997; 49: 523–7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Uchiyama M, Isse K, Tanaka K, Yokota N, Hamamoto M, Aida S, et al. Incidental Lewy body disease in a patient with REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology 1995; 45: 709–12.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Woods JH, Winger G. Current benzodiazepine issues. [Review]. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1995; 118: 107–15.[Medline]

Received June 8, 1999. Revised August 18, 1999. Accepted August 26, 1999.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
S. A. Spence
Chosen by Sean A. Spence
The British Journal of Psychiatry, February 1, 2010; 196(2): 161 - 163.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BrainHome page
J. Molano, B. Boeve, T. Ferman, G. Smith, J. Parisi, D. Dickson, D. Knopman, N. Graff-Radford, Y. Geda, J. Lucas, et al.
Mild cognitive impairment associated with limbic and neocortical lewy body disease: a clinicopathological study
Brain, November 4, 2009; (2009) awp280v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
C. W. Olanow, M. B. Stern, and K. Sethi
The scientific and clinical basis for the treatment of Parkinson disease (2009)
Neurology, May 26, 2009; 72(21_Supplement_4): S1 - S136.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
R. B. Postuma, J. F. Gagnon, M. Vendette, M. L. Fantini, J. Massicotte-Marquez, and J. Montplaisir
Quantifying the risk of neurodegenerative disease in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder
Neurology, April 14, 2009; 72(15): 1296 - 1300.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
D. Oudiette, V. C. De Cock, S. Lavault, S. Leu, M. Vidailhet, and I. Arnulf
Nonviolent elaborate behaviors may also occur in REM sleep behavior disorder
Neurology, February 10, 2009; 72(6): 551 - 557.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ACCP Sleep Med Brd RevHome page
A. Y. Avidan
Sleep and Neurodegenerative Disorders
ACCP Sleep Med Brd Rev, January 1, 2009; 4(0): 27 - 44.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. PsychiatryHome page
Y K Wing, S P Lam, S X Li, M W M Yu, S Y Y Fong, J M Y Tsoh, C K W Ho, and V K H Lam
REM sleep behaviour disorder in Hong Kong Chinese: clinical outcome and gender comparison
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, December 1, 2008; 79(12): 1415 - 1416.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. PsychiatryHome page
R B Postuma, J F Gagnon, M Vendette, K Charland, and J Montplaisir
REM sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson's disease is associated with specific motor features
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, October 1, 2008; 79(10): 1117 - 1121.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. PsychiatryHome page
M D Gjerstad, B Boeve, T Wentzel-Larsen, D Aarsland, and J P Larsen
Occurrence and clinical correlates of REM sleep behaviour disorder in patients with Parkinson's disease over time
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, April 1, 2008; 79(4): 387 - 391.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BrainHome page
B. F. Boeve, M. H. Silber, C. B. Saper, T. J. Ferman, D. W. Dickson, J. E. Parisi, E. E. Benarroch, J. E. Ahlskog, G. E. Smith, R. C. Caselli, et al.
Pathophysiology of REM sleep behaviour disorder and relevance to neurodegenerative disease
Brain, November 1, 2007; 130(11): 2770 - 2788.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
P. M. Fuller, C. B. Saper, and J. Lu
The pontine REM switch: past and present
J. Physiol., November 1, 2007; 584(3): 735 - 741.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
The Annals of PharmacotherapyHome page
J. J Gugger and M. L Wagner
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder
Ann. Pharmacother., November 1, 2007; 41(11): 1833 - 1841.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
J. E. Ahlskog
Beating a dead horse: Dopamine and Parkinson disease
Neurology, October 23, 2007; 69(17): 1701 - 1711.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch NeurolHome page
R. Poryazova, D. Waldvogel, and C. L. Bassetti
Sleepwalking in Patients With Parkinson Disease
Arch Neurol, October 1, 2007; 64(10): 1524 - 1527.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mult SclerHome page
M.J. Gomez-Choco, A. Iranzo, Y. Blanco, F. Graus, J. Santamaria, and A. Saiz
Prevalence of restless legs syndrome and REM sleep behavior disorder in multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis, July 1, 2007; 13(6): 805 - 808.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
CMAJHome page
N. Wolkove, O. Elkholy, M. Baltzan, and M. Palayew
Sleep and aging: 1. Sleep disorders commonly found in older people
Can. Med. Assoc. J., April 24, 2007; 176(9): 1299 - 1304.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. PsychiatryHome page
J Mathis, C W Hess, and C Bassetti
Isolated mediotegmental lesion causing narcolepsy and rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder: a case evidencing a common pathway in narcolepsy and rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, April 1, 2007; 78(4): 427 - 429.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
A. E. Lang
The progression of Parkinson disease: A hypothesis
Neurology, March 20, 2007; 68(12): 948 - 952.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PNHome page
P. Reading
Parasomnias: the spectrum of things that go bump in the night
Practical Neurology, February 1, 2007; 7(1): 6 - 15.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
I. Tuin, U. Voss, J. -S. Kang, K. Kessler, U. Rub, D. Nolte, H. Lochmuller, S. Tinschert, D. Claus, K. Krakow, et al.
Stages of sleep pathology in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2)
Neurology, December 12, 2006; 67(11): 1966 - 1972.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
J.-F. Gagnon, R. B. Postuma, and J. Montplaisir
Update on the pharmacology of REM sleep behavior disorder.
Neurology, September 12, 2006; 67(5): 742 - 747.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Age AgeingHome page
V. Dhawan, D. G. Healy, S. Pal, and K. R. Chaudhuri
Sleep-related problems of Parkinson's disease.
Age Ageing, May 1, 2006; 35(3): 220 - 228.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
R. B. Postuma, A. E. Lang, J. Massicotte-Marquez, and J. Montplaisir
Potential early markers of Parkinson disease in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder
Neurology, March 28, 2006; 66(6): 845 - 851.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
A. Weyer, M. Minnerop, M. Abele, and T. Klockgether
REM sleep behavioral disorder in pure autonomic failure (PAF)
Neurology, February 28, 2006; 66(4): 608 - 609.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch NeurolHome page
B. F. Boeve, S.-C. Lin, A. Strongosky, D. W. Dickson, and Z. K. Wszolek
Absence of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder in 11 Members of the Pallidopontonigral Degeneration Kindred
Arch Neurol, February 1, 2006; 63(2): 268 - 272.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
M. L. Fantini, A. Corona, S. Clerici, and L. Ferini-Strambi
Aggressive dream content without daytime aggressiveness in REM sleep behavior disorder
Neurology, October 11, 2005; 65(7): 1010 - 1015.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
A. Iranzo, J. Santamaria, D. B. Rye, F. Valldeoriola, M. J. Marti, E. Munoz, I. Vilaseca, and E. Tolosa
Characteristics of idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder and that associated with MSA and PD
Neurology, July 26, 2005; 65(2): 247 - 252.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
C. H. Adler and M. J. Thorpy
Sleep issues in Parkinson's disease
Neurology, June 28, 2005; 64(12_suppl_3): S12 - S20.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
M. L. Fantini, L. Ferini-Strambi, and J. Montplaisir
Idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder: Toward a better nosologic definition
Neurology, March 8, 2005; 64(5): 780 - 786.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BrainHome page
K. Stiasny-Kolster, Y. Doerr, J. C. Moller, H. Hoffken, T. M. Behr, W. H. Oertel, and G. Mayer
Combination of 'idiopathic' REM sleep behaviour disorder and olfactory dysfunction as possible indicator for {alpha}-synucleinopathy demonstrated by dopamine transporter FP-CIT-SPECT
Brain, January 1, 2005; 128(1): 126 - 137.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Journal of the American Animal Hospital AssociationHome page
W. W. Bush, C. S. Barr, M. M. Stecker, K. L. Overall, N. M. Bernier, E. W. Darrin, and A. R. Morrison
Diagnosis of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Disorder With Electroencephalography and Treatment With Tricyclic Antidepressants in a Dog
J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc., November 1, 2004; 40(6): 495 - 500.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
A. H. Schapira
Excessive daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease
Neurology, October 26, 2004; 63(8_suppl_3): S24 - S27.
[Full Text]


Home page
J Geriatr Psychiatry NeurolHome page
B. F. Boeve, M. H. Silber, and T. J. Ferman
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Parkinson's Disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, September 1, 2004; 17(3): 146 - 157.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
B. Phillips
Movement disorders: A sleep specialist's perspective
Neurology, March 9, 2004; 62(90052): S9 - 16.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
L. Ferini-Strambi, M. R. Di Gioia, V. Castronovo, A. Oldani, M. Zucconi, and S. F. Cappa
Neuropsychological assessment in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD): Does the idiopathic form of RBD really exist?
Neurology, January 13, 2004; 62(1): 41 - 45.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
J. K. Matheson and C. B. Saper
REM sleep behavior disorder: A dopaminergic deficiency disorder?
Neurology, November 25, 2003; 61(10): 1328 - 1329.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
K. R. Chaudhuri
Nocturnal symptom complex in PD and its management
Neurology, September 23, 2003; 61(90063): S17 - 23.
[Full Text]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
S. Gilman, R. A. Koeppe, R. D. Chervin, F. B. Consens, R. Little, H. An, L. Junck, and M. Heumann
REM sleep behavior disorder is related to striatal monoaminergic deficit in MSA
Neurology, July 8, 2003; 61(1): 29 - 34.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
B. F. Boeve, M. H. Silber, J. E. Parisi, D. W. Dickson, T. J. Ferman, E. E. Benarroch, A. M. Schmeichel, G. E. Smith, R. C. Petersen, J. E. Ahlskog, et al.
Synucleinopathy pathology and REM sleep behavior disorder plus dementia or parkinsonism
Neurology, July 8, 2003; 61(1): 40 - 45.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. PsychiatryHome page
J M Henderson, Y Lu, S Wang, H Cartwright, and G M Halliday
Olfactory deficits and sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease: a case-control survey
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, July 1, 2003; 74(7): 956 - 958.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
M.L. Fantini, M. Michaud, N. Gosselin, G. Lavigne, and J. Montplaisir
Periodic leg movements in REM sleep behavior disorder and related autonomic and EEG activation
Neurology, December 24, 2002; 59(12): 1889 - 1894.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
J.- F. Gagnon, M.- A. Bedard, M. L. Fantini, D. Petit, M. Panisset, S. Rompre, J. Carrier, and J. Montplaisir
REM sleep behavior disorder and REM sleep without atonia in Parkinson's disease
Neurology, August 27, 2002; 59(4): 585 - 589.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
C. R. Cantor and M. B. Stern
Dopamine agonists and sleep in Parkinson's disease
Neurology, February 1, 2002; 58(90001): S71 - 78.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J Geriatr Psychiatry NeurolHome page
R. S. Turner
Idiopathic Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Is a Harbinger of Dementia with Lewy Bodies
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, January 1, 2002; 15(4): 195 - 199.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
M. H. Silber, A. J. Goldman, J. K.- F. Ng, C. A. Richardson, G. A. Jull, H. Lahrmann, U. Zifko, W. Grisold, S. L. Pullman, D. Goodin, et al.
Clinical utility of surface EMG: Report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology
Neurology, May 22, 2001; 56(10): 1421 - 1422.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
K. Kimura, N. Tachibana, J. Kohyama, Y. Otsuka, S. Fukazawa, and R. Waki
A discrete pontine ischemic lesion could cause REM sleep behavior disorder
Neurology, September 26, 2000; 55(6): 894 - 895.
[Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (180)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Olson, E. J.
Right arrow Articles by Silber, M. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Olson, E. J.
Right arrow Articles by Silber, M. H.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?