REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder is a sleep disorder in which you physically act out vivid, often unpleasant dreams with vocal sounds and sudden, often violent arm and leg movements during REM sleep — sometimes called dream-enacting behavior.
You normally don’t move during REM sleep, a normal stage of sleep that occurs many times during the night. About 20 percent of your sleep is spent in REM sleep, the usual time for dreaming, which occurs primarily during the second half of the night.
The onset of REM sleep behavior disorder is often gradual and it can get worse with time.
REM sleep behavior disorder may be associated with other neurological conditions, such as Lewy body dementia (also called dementia with Lewy bodies), Parkinson’s disease or multiple system atrophy.
With REM sleep behavior disorder, instead of experiencing the normal temporary paralysis of your arms and legs (atonia) during REM sleep, you physically act out your dreams.
The onset can be gradual or sudden, and episodes may occur occasionally or several times a night. The disorder often worsens with time.
Symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder may include:
- Movement, such as kicking, punching, arm flailing or jumping from bed, in response to action-filled or violent dreams, such as being chased or defending yourself from an attack
- Noises, such as talking, laughing, shouting, emotional outcries or even cursing
- Being able to recall the dream if you awaken during the episode
When to see a doctor
If you have any of the symptoms above or are experiencing other problems sleeping, talk to your doctor.
Nerve pathways in the brain that prevent muscles from moving are active during normal REM or dreaming sleep, resulting in temporary paralysis of your body. In REM sleep behavior disorder, these pathways no longer work and you may physically act out your dreams.
Factors associated with the development of REM sleep behavior disorder include:
- Being male and over 50 years old — however, more women are now being diagnosed with the disorder, especially under age 50, and young adults and children can develop the disorder, usually in association with narcolepsy, antidepressant use or brain tumors
- Having a certain type of neurodegenerative disorder, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, stroke or dementia with Lewy bodies
- Having narcolepsy, a chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness
- Taking certain medications, especially newer antidepressants, or the use or withdrawal of drugs or alcohol
Recent evidence suggests that there may also be several specific environmental or personal risk factors for REM sleep behavior disorder, including occupational pesticide exposure, farming, smoking or a previous head injury.
Complications caused by REM sleep behavior disorder may include:
- Distress to your sleeping partner or other people living in your home
- Social isolation for fear that others may become aware of your sleep disruption
- Injury to yourself or your sleeping partner
To diagnose REM sleep behavior disorder, your doctor reviews your medical history and your symptoms. Your evaluation may include:
- Physical and neurological exam. Your doctor conducts a physical and neurological exam and evaluates you for REM sleep behavior disorder and other sleep disorders. REM sleep behavior disorder may have symptoms similar to other sleep disorders, or it may coexist with other sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
- Talking with your sleeping partner. Your doctor may ask your sleeping partner whether he or she has ever seen you appear to act out your dreams while sleeping, such as punching, flailing your arms in the air, shouting or screaming. Your doctor may also ask your partner to fill out a questionnaire about your sleep behaviors.
- Nocturnal sleep study (polysomnogram). Doctors may recommend an overnight study in a sleep lab. During this test, sensors monitor your heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, vocalizations, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep. Typically, you’ll be videotaped to document your behavior during REM sleep cycles.
Diagnostic criteria
To diagnose REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep medicine physicians typically use the symptom criteria in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Third Edition (ICSD-3).
For a diagnosis of REM sleep behavior disorder, criteria include the following:
- You have repeated times of arousal during sleep where you talk, make noises or perform complex motor behaviors, such as punching, kicking or running movements that often relate to the content of your dreams
- You recall dreams associated with these movements or sounds
- If you awaken during the episode, you are alert and not confused or disoriented
- A sleep study (polysomnogram) shows you have increased muscle activity during REM sleep
- Your sleep disturbance is not caused by another sleep disturbance, a mental health disorder, medication or substance abuse
REM sleep behavior disorder can be the first indication of development of a neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy or dementia with Lewy bodies. So if you develop REM sleep behavior disorder, it’s important to follow up with your doctor.
Treatment for REM sleep behavior disorder may include physical safeguards and medications.
Physical safeguards
Your doctor may recommend that you make changes in your sleep environment to make it safer for you and your bed partner, including:
- Padding the floor near the bed
- Removing dangerous objects from the bedroom, such as sharp items and weapons
- Placing barriers on the side of the bed
- Moving furniture and clutter away from the bed
- Protecting bedroom windows
- Possibly sleeping in a separate bed or room from your bed partner until symptoms are controlled
Medications
Examples of treatment options for REM sleep behavior disorder include:
- Melatonin. Your doctor may prescribe a dietary supplement called melatonin, which may help reduce or eliminate your symptoms. Melatonin may be as effective as clonazepam and is usually well-tolerated with few side effects.
- Clonazepam (Klonopin). This prescription medication, often used to treat anxiety, is also the traditional choice for treating REM sleep behavior disorder, appearing to effectively reduce symptoms. Clonazepam may cause side effects such as daytime sleepiness, decreased balance and worsening of sleep apnea.
Doctors continue to study several other medications that may treat REM sleep behavior disorder. Talk with your doctor to determine the most appropriate treatment option for you.
References
- Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. http://www.psychiatryonline.org. Accessed March 24, 2017.
- Sateia M. REM sleep behavior disorder. In: International Classification of Sleep Disorders. 3rd ed. Darien, Ill.: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2014. http://www.aasmnet.org/EBooks/ICSD3. Accessed March 24, 2017.
- AskMayoExpert. REM sleep behavior disorder. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2016.
- Brown A. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 19, 2017.
- Aurora RN, et al. Best practice guide for the treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2010;6:85.
- Howell M, et al. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 24, 2017.
- McGrane IR, et al. Melatonin therapy for REM sleep behavior disorder: A critical review of evidence. Sleep Medicine. 2015;16:19.
- Sleep: A dynamic activity. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/understanding_sleep.htm. Accessed March 24, 2017.
- In-lab sleep study. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/in-lab-sleep-study. Accessed March 24, 2017.
- Postuma RB, et al. Neurodegeneration in REM sleep behavior disorder: Stratification keeps improving. Neurology. In press. Accessed March 24, 2017.
- Medical review (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 10, 2017.
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