A patient with narcolepsy may experience hallucinations and psychotic symptoms. These can be explained by one or more conditions that may affect these patients.
Diagnosis
Condition
chronic use of stimulants
risk factors are high dose and long-term use, may or may not resolve once stimulant discontinued
depression
social rejection and/or poor self image, especially if misdiagnosed
hallucinations associated with narcolepsy
tend to occur while going to sleep (hypagogic) or after awakening (hypnapompic), often occur when supine, usually visual and/or kinetic hallucinations
comorbid schizophrenia
hallucinations are most often auditory and are often accompanied by paranoia or other delusions
Recognition of the cause of the symptoms is important for proper management.
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