Psychiatria pre prax 2/2011

Kleine-Levin syndrome – neuropsychiatric problems

The Kleine-Levin syndrome is a rare sleep disorder occuring predominantly in adolescence, more common in boys. It is considered to be a sybtype of recurrent hypersomnia. Clinical features represent repeating episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness accompanied by various symptoms of cognitive and behavioral disorders such as megaphagy and hypersexuality. Attack periods are followed by asymptomatic periods with normal need of sleep. The exact etiopathogenesis is unclear and attempts of therapeutic access are being still inadequate.

Keywords: Kleine-Levin syndrome, recurrent hypersomnia, megaphagy, hypersexuality.