Sleep-Related Eating Disorder: Causes, Treatment, and More

Sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) is a parasomnia that links eating disorders to partial arousal during the transition between wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. It is characterized by dysfunctional eating and drinking upon partial arousal from a stage of NREM sleep (also known as slow-wave sleep). As a form of sleepwalking, it entails partial or complete amnesia of the event. According to one study, the estimated prevalence of SRED was nearly 5% in the general population. The disorder is more common than generally recognized, and we can agree it requires more public awareness. This type of connection between two entirely different disorders presents a rather complex pattern of cause and effect. To understand it better, let’s first look into NREM arousal parasomnias, as sleep-related eating disorder is a variant of them. NREM Sleep Arousal Disorders among adults Behaviors classified as non-rapid eye movement sleep arousal disorders typically occur in the first third of the night and they include: Sleepwalking Confusional arousals Sleep terrors They’re best described as partial or incomplete arousals from deep sleep, where the states of sleep and wakefulness are mixed with one another. That makes the affected person experience episodes during which they are simultaneously partially asleep and partially awake. They are heavily linked to genetics and common among children at various stages of development, with episodes subsiding as a child ages. In m...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Diet & Nutrition Eating Disorders Neuroscience Sleep Stigma Stress Binge Eating Disorder Bingeing Disordered Eating nightmare disorder parasomnia restless leg syndrome Sleep apnea sleep disorder sleep hygiene sleep-related ea Source Type: news