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Characteristics of Patients With NocturnalDissociative Disorders
Mehmet Yücel Agargun, M.D., Hayrettin Kara, M.D., Ömer Akil Özer, M.D.,
Umit Semiz, M.D., Yavuz Selvi, M.D., Ümit Kiran, M.D., Temel Tombul, M.D.
Frequency of nocturnal dissociative episodes (NDE)in patients with dissociative disorders
(DD)was determined and clinical characteristics of patients with nocturnal dissociative dis-
orders was compared with those DD only.Extensive overnight polysomnographic monitor-
ing with nocturnal video-polysomnography was performed in 8 patients with NDE and 21
patients with DD only.We found a 27.5%prevalence of NDE in patients with DD.A clear
transition from one personality to another was observed during sleep in 2 (about 7%)
patients.Hallucinations,self-mutilating behaviors during sleep,and violent behavior during
sleep were more common in the patients with NDE.Sleep may facilitate the transition from
one personality to the other one.Patients with DD may use dissociation as a defense mech-
anism during sleep.(Sleep and Hypnosis 2001;3(4):131-134)
| Keywords: sleep/wakefulness dissociation, dissociative disorders, sleep-relatedviolence |
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