Catathrenia (nocturnal groaning): A new type of parasomnia

Abstract

Four patients between 15 and 25 years of age presented with exclusively expiratory groaning during sleep. Groaning usually occurred during the second part of the night, beginning at age 5 to 16 years. Patients were unaware of the nocturnal noise, but it alarmed others. Results of otorhinolaryngologic and neurologic examinations were normal. Expiratory groaning arose during REM and non-REM sleep stage 2, and was repeated in clusters. Nocturnal groaning, which the authors term catathrenia, represents a distinctive parasomnia.

Effect of CPAP therapy on catathrenia and OSA: a case report and review of the literature

“…In 2001, Vetrugno et al reported four additional patients with onset of the disorder but did not mention any treatment strategies [10]. In the same year, Pevernagie et al reported ten patients of catathrenia, five with mild OSA and two with moderate OSA [11].…”

Catathrenia (Nocturnal Groaning): A Social Media Survey and State-of-the-Art Review

“…1 The classic polysomnographic description is a deep inhalation followed by a protracted exhalation during which moaning or groaning sounds are produced, usually lasting between 2 and 49 seconds. 25 Catathrenia occurs predominantly during REM sleep, 2,3,7,16,35,39 but has also been identified in non-REM sleep 39 ; these episodes occur without observed respiratory distress and the arterial oxygen saturation remains normal. 26 Catathrenia is distinct from both sleep talking (a parasomnia with loud talking during sleep) and snoring (noise due to vibration of upper airway soft tissues related to variations in airway resistance).…”

“…35 Pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are other modalities others have used to manage catathrenia, though with varied results. 39 Although catathrenia has not been associated with significant risk of physical harm or long-term morbidity, it remains a significant cause for concern among patients and their bed partners. In this series, episodes of catathrenia were reported to occur on an almost nightly basis (6.6 ± 1.1 nights per week) and were associated with a moderate level of distress; by comparison, Oldani et al reported a similar a frequency of 5.4 ± 1.5 nights per week.associated with stress or anxiety?…”

Movement Disorders in Sleep

“…While far more frequent in REM sleep, it may also occur in NREM sleep and alternate with normal breathing. It was actually first described by Pevernagie et al [61], but was first named by Vetrugno et al [62] in 2001. The same group subsequently reported in 2007 [63] that the groaning was accompanied by disproportionately prolonged expiration causing reduced tidal volume and bradypnea without oxygen desaturation, and that patients experienced no additional symptoms after a mean follow-up of 4.9 years.…”