confusional arousal
A parasomnia characterized by disorientation and confusion during partial awakening from deep sleep.
Full Definition
Confusional arousal is a non-REM parasomnia that occurs during partial awakening from deep slow-wave sleep, typically within the first few hours of sleep onset. Episodes are characterized by disorientation, confusion, slow speech, poor responsiveness to external stimuli, and amnesia for the event upon full awakening. Patients may appear awake but demonstrate impaired cognition, inappropriate behavior, and difficulty being fully aroused. Confusional arousals are more common in children but can persist into adulthood. The condition is part of the spectrum of disorders of arousal, along with sleepwalking and sleep terrors, and episodes can be triggered by sleep deprivation, irregular sleep schedules, or other sleep disruptions.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from sleep inertia, which is normal post-awakening grogginess rather than a pathological parasomnia.
In Context
- "The child's confusional arousal episodes occurred 2-3 hours after sleep onset with complete amnesia." — Pediatric parasomnia evaluation
- "Video monitoring captured a 15-minute confusional arousal with disoriented behavior and mumbled speech." — Sleep laboratory observation