The Diagnosis and Treatment of Narcolepsy

Characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent uncontrollable sleep attacks, and sleep fragmentation, narcolepsy can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. This rapid-onset disorder disrupts wakefulness and REM sleep, and is categorized as either type 1 (with cataplexy) or type 2 (without cataplexy). Although there is often a delay in its identification, leading to impairments in a patient’s academic/professional and social performance, narcolepsy does respond to therapy once a firm diagnosis has been made. This session will describe the evaluation of narcolepsy and the best strategies for treating patients with this condition.