REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Medico-legal Aspects

Nida Taşçılar; Derya Karadeniz

Nida Taşçılar¹, Derya Karadeniz²

¹Department Of Neurology, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Faculty Of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey
²Department Of Neurology, İstanbul University, Cerrahpasa Faculty Of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey

Keywords: REM sleep behavior disorder, medico-legal aspects, polysomnography, REM sleep, parasomnia

Abstract

Scientific BACKGROUND: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterised by dream-enacting behaviors and loss of normal REM sleep muscle atonia. It could occur idiopathically or accompanying neurodegenerative diseases. “Acting out of dreams” permits violent or injurious behaviors. These behaviors could result in laceration, fractures, subdural haematomas and so on. In developed countries, the legal implications of these behaviors have been discussing and debating in medical and legal literature. But in Turkey, legal aspects of RBD have not discussed yet.

CONCLUSION: In this review, the clinic, pathopysiology, therapy and medicolegal aspects of RBD is discussed.