Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41425201›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in sleep2025

A non-neurodegenerative REM parasomnia with immersive dreaming and dream-reality confusion: a case report.

Nazanin Biabani, Martina Mulas, Carlotta Mutti, Sean Higgins, Katarina Ilic, Joshua Benson, Ana Santic, Valentina Gnoni, Panagis Drakatos, Andrea Romigi and 6 more

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in sleep, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. When dreams feel real: the MÖBIUS model.Communications biology · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Nazanin BiabaniSleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Martina MulasSleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Carlotta MuttiSleep Disorders Centre, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Parma University Hospital and Mario Giovanni Terzano Interdepartmental Centre for Sleep Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Sean HigginsSleep Disorders Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Katarina IlicSleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Joshua BensonSleep Disorders Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Ana SanticSleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Valentina GnoniDepartment of Clinical Research Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro' Pia Fondazione "Card. G. Panico" Tricase (LE), Tricase, Italy.
Panagis DrakatosSleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Andrea RomigiIRCCS Neuromed Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Sleep Medicine Center Pozzilli IS and International Medical University UNICAMILLUS, Rome, Italy.
Alexander D NesbittSleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Sharon L NaismithHealthy Brain Ageing Program, The Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Carlos H SchenckMinnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center, and Departments of Psychiatry, Hennepin County Medical Centre and University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
David O'ReganSleep Disorders Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Monica PulighedduSleep Disorder Centre, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Ivana RosenzweigSleep and Brain Plasticity Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by loss of normal muscle atonia during REM sleep, often associated with dream enactment behaviors, and is typically a prodromal neurodegenerative condition in middle-aged and older adults. However, emerging case reports and case series suggest that not all RBD presentations follow this trajectory, particularly in younger individuals. Case presentation: A case of 7-year history of vivid, immersive dreaming perceived as continuous with waking life, accompanied by persistent dream-reality confusion, is described. The patient frequently engaged in reality-testing behaviors and reported significant cognitive fatigue. Video-polysomnography confirmed REM sleep without atonia and a concordant dream re-enactment episode. Neuropsychiatric evaluation ruled out dissociative or psychotic disorders, and no evidence of neurodegenerative disease was observed. Conclusion: This presented case illustrates a potentially distinct, non-neurodegenerative REM parasomnia phenotype that underscores the need to expand current parasomnia classifications to better capture the diverse cognitive and metacognitive dimensions of REM sleep disorders. Moreover, potential mechanisms underlying the main features of this case, including immersive dreaming and persistent dream-reality confusion, are discussed in relation to hypothesized dysfunction in melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) signaling.

Indexed as

dream-reality confusionimmersive dreamingmelanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)memory consolidationparasomniaREM sleep behavior disorderREM sleep without atoniasleep cognition

Identifiers

PMID41425201
PMCPMC12713830

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.