Psychology MCAT Practice Exam

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Which of the following is NOT classified as a dyssomnia?

Insomnia
Narcolepsy
Night terrors
Sleep apnea

The correct answer is: Night terrors

Night terrors are classified as parasomnias rather than dyssomnias. Dyssomnias are characterized by disturbances in the amount, quality, or timing of sleep, and include conditions like insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. Insomnia involves difficulty falling or staying asleep, narcolepsy is associated with uncontrollable episodes of sleep, and sleep apnea is defined by pauses in breathing during sleep, affecting the quality of sleep. On the other hand, night terrors, which typically occur during non-REM sleep, are characterized by episodes of intense fear, screaming, and thrashing, and do not primarily disrupt sleep patterns in the way that dyssomnias do. Therefore, night terrors are not classified as a dyssomnia but rather fall under the umbrella of parasomnias, making this the correct distinction.