Psychotherapy High Wycombe Psychotherapy High Wycombe - Last updated 07 January 2026

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DSM-IV: Narcolepsy

Individuals with this Dyssomnia suffer repeated sleep attacks in which they are unable to resist falling asleep suddenly. They also experience cataplexy and/or recurrent experience during the period of transition between sleep and wakefulness of paralysis, hypnopompic and/or hypnagogic hallucinations.

Diagnostic criteria for 347.00 Narcolepsy

A. Irresistible attacks of refreshing sleep that occur daily over at least 3 months.

B. The presence of one or both of the following:

(1) cataplexy (i.e., brief episodes of sudden bilateral loss of muscle tone, most often in association with intense emotion)
(2) recurrent intrusions of elements of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep into the transition between sleep and wakefulness, as manifested by either hypnopompic or hypnagogic hallucinations or sleep paralysis at the beginning or end of sleep episodes

C. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g. a drug of abuse, a medication) or another general medical condition.

Based on the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition APA

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The online Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists most of the major psychological disorders and illnesses and lists the criteria that must be fulfilled in order for a diagnosis to be made. This resource is not a substitute for proper professional psychiatric diagnosis.