NARCOLEPSY DISORDER
GENERAL INFORMATION
With narcolepsy, the person falls asleep during the day and also presents loss of muscle tone, a phenomenon known as cataplexy. An episode will occur while the person is awake, and lasting only seconds or minutes, the person can suddenly collapse. It is associated with being a reaction to a very strong emotion, such as joy or anger.
In narcolepsy there is evidence of problems found in the cerebral structures responsible for the mechanisms of wakefulness and sleep, which involve the dorsal side hypothalamus and hypocretin. Although a genetic origin has been postulated, there is a low prevalence of the disorder in family history. It is mainly thought that there is a multifactorial etiology: a group of responsible genes combined with external factors ultimately causes the disease.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does narcolepsy manifest?
It occurs due to excessive sleepiness during the day and a loss of muscle tone (cataplexy). The symptoms are of short duration and its occurrence usually affects the person's nighttime rest.
Can narcolepsy be cured?
Although there is no specific cure, the treatment can eradicate the symptoms affecting the quality of life of the patient.
What psychological problems can be triggered by narcolepsy?
Due to the lack of understanding of the disorder, and the inability to cure it altogether, the affected person can develop depression, low self-esteem and difficulties in their interpersonal relationships.
What are the causes of narcolepsy?
There is no specific cause; the hypocretin chemical substance in the brain that helps regulate wakefulness and sleep measures at a lower level in people with this disorder. Other related factors can be infections, toxic agents and strong stress levels.
OUR TREATMENT MODEL
CADE offers a multidisciplinary treatment according to the characteristics and needs of the patient that is based on the patient´s diagnosis and an individual intervention plan.
A psychological or psychiatric disorder generally has a genetic or biological origin detonated by difficult and early or current traumatic experiences that lead the individual to become ill. Therefore, the clinical intervention in these disorders necessitates the multidisciplinary work of psychiatry, psychology, medicine, nutrition and complementary therapies. The treatment can be outpatient, inpatient or semi-inpatient based.