narcolepsy
Although there are many interesting disorders mentioned in the most recent version of the DSM (DSM-IV), one that is the object of considerable personal interest to me is the disorder commonly referred to as Narcolepsy. Narcolepsy’s symptoms are not only personally interesting because of its obviously unique symptoms, but because Narcolepsy runs in my family and I have experienced some of the symptoms(i. ... sleep paralysis ad episodes of irresistible sleep) The diagnosis criteria for Narcolepsy are: A. ... In the late 1870s Narcolepsy was first described by Westphal and Fisher in Germany. ... In 1917-1927 the outbreak of encephalitis lethargica caused physicians to reconsider their broad definition of narcolepsy=daytime sleepiness and greatly increased interest in researching narcolepsy.Subsequently, Von Economo’s research which discovered the posterior hypothalmus as the part of the brain which promotes wakefulness led to much theorizing that narcolepsy is the result of an undefined illness of that region. Many methods were tried in the arly years of narcolepsy research. ... These treatments include intrathecal injection of air, cerebrospinal fluid removal, and x-ray irradiation of the hypothalmic region As the years progressed physicians began trying to treat narcolepsy with drugs. ... Emmanuel Mignot, Stanford University Center for Narcolepsy Research. ... edu/school/Psychiatry/narcolepsy/narcolepsyhistory.