A person with RBD sleep disorder acts out dramatic as well as violent dreams while he or she is in a rapid eye movement (REM) stage sleep. It is also accompanied by shouting as well as grunting, and seems to resemble other sleep disorders that involve motor activity such as sleepwalking or periodic limb movement disorder. However, these conditions do not occur during REM sleep as is the case with RBD sleep disorder, and is characterized by sleep paralysis.

One will notice RBD sleep disorder in men of 60 years of age or above though it can occur in those who are still quite young as well. This condition is the subject of many family anecdotes, and may often not reach the ears of those that matter most ? doctors. It has thus led to inexact statistics relating to such incidences. In fact, it was first described in 1986, but there is no sure known cause why such a condition arises.

RBD sleep disorder does occur while there is rapid eye movement sleep in which brain activity patterns are like wakefulness that can be documented by polysomnography as well as other sleep tests. Another characteristic of this condition is a state of atonia or muscle paralysis, and the body is still, but the brain is extremely active.

RBD sleep disorder by itself will not cause the patient to feel sleepy during the day though it is found to be present along with other sleep disorders which could result in daytime sleepiness. Some of these disorders include sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder as well as narcolepsy. It will also cause the bed partner to be awoken, which is how the patient will become aware of such a condition.

Not Mental

RBD sleep disorder is not a psychiatric disorder and patients do not have a mental problem though it is most often found to affect men, and is uncommon in women and children. It is believed, that less than one per cent of the population has such a condition. People more advanced in age are most prone to such a condition and anyone with a neurological disorder may also be afflicted.

RBD sleep disorder is likely to affect (it is believed, up to 33 per cent) of those people suffering from Parkinson's disease and it is believed, that 90 per cent of those with multiple system atrophy are also likely to get this condition. RBD sleep disorder gets worse with time and so, requires consulting a sleep specialist to minimize the risk to both the patient as well as his or her bed partner.