Bruxism and nocturnal groaning

Abstract

The International Classification of Sleep Disorders (AASM, 2005) categorizes sleep bruxism as a sleep-related movement disorder and defines it as an oral activity characterized by grinding or clenching of the teeth during sleep. Catathrenia or nocturnal groaning, included as parasomnia in the same Classification (AASM, 2005),. is a rare phenomenon characterized by an expiratory monotonous vocalization occurring predominantly during REM sleep.

In the present article we reviewed the clinical and polisomnographic data of nocturnal groaning cases published so far, and we discuss the possible points of contact between the two disorders.