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May 6, 2009 3:05 pm US/Eastern
Health Alert: Behavior Sleep Disorder
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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They are regular people who when sleeping turn violent, almost like Jekyll and Hyde. A split personality from day to night.
CBS
They are regular people who when sleeping turn violent, almost like Jekyll and Hyde.
A split personality from day to night.
"One time he did try to strangle me, but he thought somebody was strangling me," said Ann Voegtil, whose husband Ron suffers from REM Behavior Sleep Disorder or RBD.
It's a violent sleep disorder.
It also happens to Mel Abel, a calm man during the day.
For Mel, it became so bad he nearly strangled his wife.
She woke up screaming just in the nick of time.
Dr. Carlos Schenck, who co-discovered RBD, documented patients in books and the documentary "Sleep Runner's."
"It is violent moving nightmares.
And they end up hurting themselves or bed partners," said Dr. Schenck.
"These episodes are very, very disturbing to people, and ultimately that's what brings them into the office," said Dr. Fred Jaffe with The Sleep Disorders Center at Temple University Hospital.
He says it's not clear what is happening in the brain to cause the unconscious, violent outbursts.
"It ends up being very run of the mill, normal people," said Dr. Jaffe.
It can happen to anyone, at anytime.
Sometimes RBD can be caused by anti-depressants, and it usually strikes older men.
"He began pummeling me.
Kicking me violently.
I was terrified," said Rowena Pope, whose husband Cal suffers from RBD.
"I don't remember the dreams, no," said Cal Pope.
Rowena says her husband is so peaceful during the day, at night completely different.
She thought it was because he was a war veteran and maybe he had post traumatic stress disorder, but he didn't.
"I just kept thinking something awful has happened to him to be so violent," said Rowena.
Sometimes the condition has patients thinking they are a samurai warrior fighting an enemy.
"Patients with RBD contain superhuman strength.
They can leap far from bed.
The grip strength on their spouses is extraordinary.
Their shouting and screaming is so loud it can almost puncture their eardrums," said Dr. Schenck.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Sleep Runners
The Sleep Disorders Center at Temple University Hospital
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