Meditation as a non-pharmacological treatment for narcolepsy: A literature review

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations, and is often associated with other psychological and physiological disturbances. These symptoms lead to decreased social functioning and lower quality of life for individuals with narcolepsy. While current pharmacological treatment for narcolepsy can be effective in improving symptoms, there are also significant side effects (e.g., headaches, dizziness, insomnia). Meditation, a non-pharmacological intervention focusing on regulation of attention and emotion, could be a viable alternative. We introduce the conceptualization and applications of meditation, and review the potential mechanisms and existing evidence of meditation as an intervention for reducing narcolepsy symptoms (i.e., EDS, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and overweight).