Disorders of arousal from non-REM sleep

Description

Disorders of arousal from non-REM sleep are characterised by experiences or behaviours such as confusion, ambulation, terror, or extreme autonomic arousal that typically arise as a result of incomplete arousals from deep non-REM (N3) sleep. An exception is sleep-related eating disorder, which has been observed to arise during all stages of non-REM sleep. This group of disorders is also characterised by partial or complete amnesia for the event, inappropriate or absent responsiveness to efforts by others to intervene or redirect the person during the episode, and limited (e.g., a single visual scene) or no associated cognition or dream imagery. The experiences or behaviours are sufficiently severe to result in significant distress or significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning or significant risk of injury to the individual or to others (e.g., thrashing or striking out in response to efforts to restrain the individual). [1]

Subcategories

• 7B00.0 Confusional arousals

  Confusional arousals are characterised by mental confusion or confused behaviour (e.g., disorientation, being unresponsive, impaired or slow speech, poor memory) during a partial arousal from deep sleep. There is partial or complete amnesia for the events. The experiences or behaviours are sufficiently severe to result in significant distress or significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning or significant risk of injury to the individual or to others. [1]

• 7B00.1 Sleepwalking disorder

  Sleepwalking disorder is characterised by ambulation and other complex behaviours during a partial arousal from deep sleep. [1]

• 7B00.2 Sleep terrors

  Sleep terrors are characterised by episodes of abrupt terror during a partial arousal from deep sleep, typically beginning with a vocalization such as a frightening scream. The individual experiences intense fear accompanied by signs of autonomic arousal, such as mydriasis, tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis. [1]

• 7B00.3 Sleep-related eating disorder

  Sleep-related eating disorder is characterised by recurrent episodes of involuntary excessive or dangerous eating or drinking that occur during the main sleep period that are not attributable to the effects of a medication or substance. Episodes may involve consumption of peculiar forms or combinations of food or inedible or toxic substances or injurious or potentially injurious behaviours performed while in pursuit of food or while cooking food. There may be adverse health consequences from recurrent nocturnal binge eating of high calorie foods. There is partial or complete amnesia for the events. [1]

References

1. World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision, for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (ICD-11 MMS), 2026-01 release. World Health Organization; 2026.

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