![]() These episodes can last a few seconds to several minutes, but the person remains awake during the episode and experiences an instant recovery when the episode resolves. Others have full body weakness or paralysis that causes them to collapse. ![]() Some people experience partial paralysis of their face, causing their eyelids to droop or their mouth to hang open. It is most often related to a positive, strong emotional response such as excitement or laughter, however, it can be associated with other powerful emotions like anger or stress.Ĭataplexy affects people to different degrees. Cataplexy: What Does It Mean?Ĭataplexy is a partial or generalized loss of muscle tone or control that is triggered by emotion. While cataplexy can have a large impact on a person’s life, there are resources and treatments available to help those struggling to manage their illness. Those who suffer from cataplexy can feel isolated as they tend to withdraw from emotionally charged situations in order to manage their symptoms. Cataplexy Resources and Support HelplineĬataplexy is a rare disorder in which a person loses muscle control when experiencing strong emotions (also one of the symptoms of narcolepsy).What Should I be Looking for in an LMHP?.Look out for These Complications/Risk Factors.Testing: What are the Diagnostic Criteria Per the DSM 5?.Stats: How Many Suffer from this Disorder?.Importantly, management also needs to involve sleep hygiene advice, safety measures whenever applicable and guidance with regard to the social sequelae of cataplexy.Ĭataplexy Drop attacks Narcolepsy Pseudocataplexy Sodium oxybate Syncope. Symptomatic treatment is possible with antidepressants and sodium oxybate. Over time, these severe symptoms evolve to the milder adult phenotype, and this pattern is crucial to recognize when assessing the outcome of uncontrolled case series with potential treatments such as immunomodulation. Cataplexy shows remarkable differences in childhood compared to adults, with profound facial hypotonia and complex active motor phenomena. Currently, the diagnosis of cataplexy is made almost solely on clinical grounds, based on history taking and (home) videos. Childhood narcolepsy, with its profound facial hypotonia, can be confused with neuromuscular disorders, and the active motor phenomenona resemble those found in childhood movement disorders such as Sydenham's chorea. ![]() They can be differentiated from cataplexy using thorough history taking, supplemented with (home)video recordings whenever possible. Cataplexy mimics include syncope, epilepsy, hyperekplexia, drop attacks and pseudocataplexy. Next to narcolepsy, cataplexy can sometimes be caused by other diseases, such as Niemann-Pick type C, Prader Willi Syndrome, or lesions in the hypothalamic or pontomedullary region. Moreover, childhood cataplexy differs from the presentation in adults, with a prominent facial involvement, already evident without clear emotional triggers ('cataplectic facies') and 'active' motor phenomena especially of the tongue and perioral muscles. The expression of cataplexy varies widely, from partial episodes affecting only the neck muscles to generalized attacks leading to falls. Although cataplexy is rare, its recognition is important as in most cases, it leads to a diagnosis of narcolepsy, a disorder that still takes a median of 9 years to be diagnosed. ![]() This review describes the diagnosis and management of cataplexy: attacks of bilateral loss of muscle tone, triggered by emotions and with preserved consciousness. ![]()
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