Certified Polysomnographic Technician (CPSGT) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder characterized primarily by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks. These sleep attacks can occur at any time and can last from a few seconds to several minutes, leading to a significant impact on daily functioning and quality of life. Individuals with narcolepsy may also experience additional symptoms such as cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations during transitions between sleep and wakefulness.

Other sleep disorders listed do not share this specific symptom of sudden sleep attacks. For instance, insomnia involves difficulty falling or staying asleep, rather than sudden sleep episodes during the day. Sleep apnea is characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep, resulting in disrupted sleep patterns, but does not typically include sudden sleep attacks. Restless legs syndrome involves an irresistible urge to move the legs, particularly at night, which can disrupt sleep but does not manifest as sudden sleep attacks. Thus, narcolepsy is the correct choice as it specifically encompasses the defining characteristic of sudden, uncontrollable sleep bouts.