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Castelnovo A, Schraemli M, Schenck CH, Manconi M. The parasomnia defense in sleep-related homicide: A systematic review and a critical analysis of the medical literature. Sleep Med Rev 2024; 74:101898. [PMID: 38364685 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
This review critically analyzes the forensic application of the Parasomnia Defense in homicidal incidents, drawing from medical literature on disorders of arousal (DOA) and rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted until October 16, 2022. We screened English-language articles in peer-reviewed journals discussing murders committed during sleep with a Parasomnia Defense. We followed PRISMA guidelines, extracting event details, diagnosis methods, factors influencing the acts, perpetrator behavior, timing, motives, concealment, mental experiences, victim demographics, and court verdicts. Three sleep experts evaluated each case. We selected ten homicides, four attempted homicides, and one homicide/attempted homicide that met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Most cases were suspected DOA as unanimously confirmed by experts. RBD cases were absent. Among aggressors, a minority reported dream-like experiences. Victims were primarily female family members killed in or near the bed by hands and/or with sharp objects. Objective sleep data and important crime scene details were often missing. Verdicts were ununiform. Homicides during DOA episodes, though rare, are documented, validating the Parasomnia Defense's use in forensics. RBD-related fatal aggression seems very uncommon. However, cases often lack diagnostic clarity. We propose updated guidelines to enhance future reporting and understanding of such incidents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Castelnovo
- Neurocenter of Italian Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Ospedale Civico, Lugano, Switzerland; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland; University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Matthias Schraemli
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Carlos H Schenck
- Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center, Departments of Psychiatry, Hennepin County Medical Center, And University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
| | - Mauro Manconi
- Neurocenter of Italian Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Ospedale Civico, Lugano, Switzerland; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland; Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
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See QR, Raheel K, Duncan I, Biabani N, Di Giulio I, Romigi A, Kumari V, O’Regan D, Cairney S, Urso D, Chaudhuri KR, Gnoni V, Drakatos P, Rosenzweig I. Dreaming Characteristics in Non-Rapid Eye Movement Parasomnia and Idiopathic Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder: Similarities and Differences. Nat Sci Sleep 2024; 16:263-277. [PMID: 38482468 PMCID: PMC10933526 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s435201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Speech graph analysis (SGA) of dreams has recently shown promise as an objective and language-invariant diagnostic tool that can aid neuropsychiatric diagnosis. Whilst the notion that dreaming mentations reflect distinct physiologic processes is not new, such studies in patients with sleep disorders remain exceptionally scarce. Here, using SGA and other dream content analyses, we set to investigate structural and thematic differences in morning dream recalls of patients diagnosed with Non-Rapid Eye Movement Parasomnia (NREMP) and Idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (iRBD). Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study of morning dream recalls of iRBD and NREMP patients was undertaken. Traditional dream content analyses, such as Orlinsky and Hall and Van de Castle analyses, were initially conducted. Subsequently, SGA was performed in order to objectively quantify structural speech differences between the dream recalls of the two patient groups. Results Comparable rate of morning recall of dreams in the sleep laboratory was recorded; 25% of iRBD and 18.35% of NREMP patients. Aggression in dreams was recorded by 28.57% iRBD versus 20.00% in NREMP group. iRBD patients were more likely to recall dreams (iRBD vs NREMP; P = 0.007), but they also had more white dreams, ie having a feeling of having dreamt, but with no memory of it. Visual and quantitative graph speech analyses of iRBD dreams suggested stable sequential structure, reflecting the linearity of the chronological narrative. Conversely, NREMP dream reports displayed more recursive, less stable systems, with significantly higher scores of graph connectivity measures. Conclusion The findings of our exploratory study suggest that iRBD and NREMP patients may not only differ on what is recalled in their dreams but also, perhaps more strikingly, on how dreams are recalled. It is hoped that future SGA-led dream investigations of larger groups of patients will help discern distinct mechanistic underpinnings and any associated clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Rui See
- Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, U.K
| | - Kausar Raheel
- Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, U.K
| | - Iain Duncan
- Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, U.K
| | - Nazanin Biabani
- Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, U.K
| | - Irene Di Giulio
- School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, U.K
| | - Andrea Romigi
- IRCCS Neuromed Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Pozzilli (IS), Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Veena Kumari
- Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, U.K
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, U.K
| | - David O’Regan
- Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, U.K
- School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, U.K
- Sleep Disorders Centre, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, U.K
| | - Scott Cairney
- Department of Psychology, University of York and York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, U.K
| | - Daniele Urso
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Movement Disorders Unit, King’s College Hospital and Department of Clinical and Basic Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience and Parkinson Foundation Centre of Excellence, King’s College London, London, U.K
| | - K Ray Chaudhuri
- Movement Disorders Unit, King’s College Hospital and Department of Clinical and Basic Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience and Parkinson Foundation Centre of Excellence, King’s College London, London, U.K
| | - Valentina Gnoni
- Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, U.K
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Panagis Drakatos
- Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, U.K
- School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, U.K
- Sleep Disorders Centre, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, U.K
| | - Ivana Rosenzweig
- Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, U.K
- Sleep Disorders Centre, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, U.K
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Townsend LTJ, Anderson KN, Boeve BF, McKeith I, Taylor JP. Sleep disorders in Lewy body dementia: Mechanisms, clinical relevance, and unanswered questions. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:5264-5283. [PMID: 37392199 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
In Lewy body dementia (LBD), disturbances of sleep and/or arousal including insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome are common. These disorders can each exert a significant negative impact on both patient and caregiver quality of life; however, their etiology is poorly understood. Little guidance is available for assessing and managing sleep disorders in LBD, and they remain under-diagnosed and under-treated. This review aims to (1) describe the specific sleep disorders which occur in LBD, considering their putative or potential mechanisms; (2) describe the history and diagnostic process for these disorders in LBD; and (3) summarize current evidence for their management in LBD and consider some of the ongoing and unanswered questions in this field and future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh T J Townsend
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Kirstie N Anderson
- Regional Sleep Service, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Bradley F Boeve
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ian McKeith
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John-Paul Taylor
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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