Educational Media Reviews Online

Although there is no current cure for narcolepsy, and it is not well understood by most health practitioners. This video succeeds as a brief, effective introduction on the disorder. Through the stories of three people who suffer from narcolepsy, we learn of the horrendous psychological and social impact that the disorder can have. These individuals have learned to manage their lives through the use of stimulants, antidepressants and frequent naps, but their lives are anything but regular. Additionally, their constant fear of attacks of catalepsy, a complete loss of muscle control while maintaining consciousness, further detracts from their quality of life.

The video offers non-technical information on incidence rates, age of initial occurrence/diagnosis, possible hereditary related factors, and the physiology of sleep patterns. This information is useful for our understanding, but the video’s most effective content are the stories of individuals who discuss narcolepsy’s impact on their lives. Recommended.