Exploding head syndrome is classified as a sleep disorder or headache disorder that occurs when a person falls asleep or wakes up to loud auditory hallucinations resembling explosions, despite the experience causing no actual physical pain. Documented potential triggers include stress, lack of sleep, caffeine and alcohol consumption, and management approaches include lifestyle changes such as reducing screen time and improving sleep hygiene, though trials of medication have shown mixed results.
Facts
Partially Attested
First Described YearEarliest attested case report is 1876 (Silas Weir Mitchell); an earlier account in a 1691 biography of Descartes is suggested, and the name was given in 1989. Classification
Type of Phenomenon Diagnostic Chapter Core ClaimA sleep or headache disorder in which a person hears loud auditory hallucinations when falling asleep or waking up 1 Sources
1. Exploding head syndrome - Wikipedia
Intro, sentence 2
It occurs when someone falls asleep or wakes up to loud auditory hallucinations.
History, paragraph 1
In 1876, Silas Weir Mitchell described EHS as "sensory discharges" in a patient
Bodily section on classification
According to ICD-10 and DSM-5 EHS is classified as either "other specified sleep-wake disorder"
lead section, phenomenon-kind classification
Other symptoms of EHS include seeing a flash of light, feeling a tingling sensation run through the body, or suddenly feeling hot.
In Group: Parasomnias, Lead
Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is classified as a sleep disorder or headache disorder.
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