What does parasomnia mean?
A parasomnia is a sleep disturbance marked by abnormal physical or verbal behavior during sleep. It includes conditions such as sleepwalking, sleep talking, and behaviors that appear connected to dreams. In some cases, people perform surprisingly complex actions while not fully awake, and the events may be difficult to recall afterward. The term is broader than sleepwalking, which is one specific form of parasomnia. Clinically, parasomnias are distinct from insomnia, because the central problem is unwanted behavior during sleep rather than an inability to sleep. The word is especially useful when describing experiences that blur the boundary between sleeping and waking. It is generally formal and medical, and it appears in discussions of sleep medicine, neurology, and psychology.
nounA sleep disorder involving abnormal or unwanted physical behavior during sleep, such as walking, talking, or acting out dreams. The term is also used more broadly for other sleep-related disturbances involving involuntary movement or behavior.
- An abnormal or unwanted physical behavior occurring during sleep, such as sleepwalking, talking, screaming, or acting out dreams.
- More broadly, a sleep disorder characterized by involuntary movement or behavior during sleep.
"Her parasomnia caused her to walk around the house while apparently dreaming."
"The patient was referred to a sleep specialist after episodes of sleep-related violence consistent with parasomnia."
"Parasomnia can cause people to move, speak, or perform complex activities without being fully awake."
The plural is used when referring to several parasomnias or to the category of sleep disorders as a whole.
"The clinic specializes in parasomnias and other complex sleep disorders."
Remember a parasomnia as a sleep disturbance in which the body acts while the mind is still partly dreaming.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of parasomnia
The word combines Greek para-, meaning beyond or beside, with somnus, meaning sleep, and the suffix -ia. It developed in medical usage during the early twentieth century to describe abnormal phenomena occurring around sleep. Its underlying roots are shared with English words such as insomnia, somnambulism, and somniloquy, all of which refer to sleep or behavior connected with it.
Related word forms
How parasomnia is actually used
The term is primarily used in medicine and sleep science. It usually describes unwanted behavior arising during sleep, not ordinary dream content or difficulty sleeping. The precise meaning varies somewhat between clinical classifications.
Easily confused with parasomnia
Somnambulism specifically means sleepwalking, whereas parasomnia is a broader category that includes sleepwalking and other abnormal behaviors during sleep.
Insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep, while parasomnia refers primarily to unwanted movement or behavior during sleep.