Abstract
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurologic disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness which can be associated with cataplexy, sleep fragmentation, sleep-related hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. This sleep disorder is often confused with other disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, and even schizophrenia, and is, thus, misdiagnosed. This study aims to report the successful differential diagnosis for childhood narcolepsy carried out by a multidisciplinary team and its challenges, with a focus on the role of sleep psychology in assessment and intervention. A 10-year-old child was received at the Child Narcolepsy and Sleep Apnea Clinic (AMBNAP), located at the Onofre Lopes University Hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), with complaints of hypersomnolence, fragmented sleep, and episodes of loss of muscle tone. He underwent detailed psychiatric and psychological interviews, analysis of exams, application of specific scales for screening and diagnosis of sleep disorders and sleep diary, request of media resources and school report, and neurological assessment. From the multidisciplinary investigation, excluding of other neurological diagnoses, the diagnosis was Narcolepsy and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). The patient was submitted to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, such as psychoeducation, scheduled naps, cognitive therapy for dysfunctional beliefs, and sleep hygiene strategies, and continues to be followed up, with satisfactory results since the first two months of intervention. The findings presented in this study show that a multidisciplinary team specialized in the sleep area, acting alongside Sleep Psychology provides early diagnosis and interventions for the sleep disorder treatment in childhood.
Keywords:
Narcolepsy; Cognitive-behavioral Therapy; Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome; Sleep Psychology; Child