What is Hypersomnolence Disorder?

Hypersomnolence Disorder is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness that can significantly impair an individual’s ability to function effectively in daily life. This condition often manifests as prolonged sleep episodes and difficulty waking up, even after a full night’s sleep. The diagnosis requires that this excessive sleeping or sleepiness occurs at least three times per week and persists for at least three months, impacting social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

In contrast, other options do not adequately capture the definition of Hypersomnolence Disorder. Frequent night terrors are typically related to different sleep disorders, including Nightmare Disorder or Sleep Terror Disorder, and do not necessarily involve excessive daytime sleepiness. The inability to sleep for more than 12 hours does not align with the criteria of Hypersomnolence Disorder, which focuses on excessive sleep rather than the duration of sleep episodes. Lastly, while excessive sleep disturbances may encompass various forms of sleep disruptions, they do not specifically address the core features of Hypersomnolence Disorder, which centers on excessive daytime sleepiness and its impact on functioning.