Psychiatria pre prax 1/2020

Narcolepsy type 1 and psychotic disorders - therapeutic dilemma

Narcolepsy typ 1 is a chronic a rare hypersomnolence of central origin with excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep-related hallucinations, and paralyses as core symptoms. Narcolepsy is associated with a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders, co-morbidity with psychotic disorder is rare. The current occurence of these two diseasesputs off the correct diagnosis and worsens the therapeutic prognosis. Excessive somnolence treatment in the case of narcolepsy can reinforce the symptoms of psychosis and antipsychtics can worsen the somnolence. We are presenting the casusistics of a 19-year old patient with this rare comorbidity with the aim to point out the therapeutic dilemma during the 5-year long monitoring.

Keywords: narcolepsy, cataplexy, schizophrenia, comorbidity, treatment