Severe chronic sleep-related neurogenic tachypnea.

We report a chronic and severe case of sleep-related neurogenic tachypnea that occurred after head injury and preceding the use of medications known to suppress the respiratory system. Failure to acknowledge or explain the patient's sleep behavior had previously contributed to her depression and anxiety. She accepted that her respiratory abnormality in sleep is of little prognostic significance.

The validation of a new actigraphy system for the measurement of periodic leg movements in sleep.

Background And Purpose: To determine the accuracy of a new actigraphy system for the measurement of periodic leg movements (PLMs). Continuous measurements of leg movements, made overnight, are essential to diagnose and monitor treatment for PLMs. We have developed the Actiwatch with Cambridge Neuro-Technology Ltd (Cambridge, UK) to detect leg movements consistent with PLMs, to record these movements from both feet over three consecutive nights and to report standard indices of PLMs.

Factors associated with a delay in the diagnosis of narcolepsy.

Background: There can be a long interval from the onset of symptoms before a diagnosis of narcolepsy is made. There are no multivariate analyses reported in the literature of factors that may contribute to this delay. The aims of this study were to describe the delay in diagnosis of people with narcolepsy living in the UK and to identify associated factors.

Periodic limb movement in a community population detected by a new actigraphy technique.

Background: Periodic limb movements (PLMs) have been studied in both community and sleep clinic populations using polysomnography. An alternative detection method is actigraphy. Our aims were to determine the frequency of PLMs, measured by actigraphy in a community sample, and to assess the relationships of PLMs with age, gender, and reported sleep-related symptoms.