REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by loss of physiological muscle atonia during REM sleep with resulting dream enactment behavior leading to sleep disruption and injury to the patient or bed partner. Most patients present because of significant injuries sustained from the violent motor activities during sleep. RBD can be seen in higher rates in patients with neurodegenerative conditions or can sometimes be the presenting symptom of the condition occurring years before the onset of the other neurological symptoms. Treatment includes making the sleeping environment safe and possibly using pharmacological treatment in the form of clonazepam or melatonin.