Narcolepsy

Since the publication of the first book, "Psychosocial Aspects of Narcolepsy" in 1992 (Haworth Press), edited by Meeta Goswami, Michael Thorpy, et al., new data have emerged illustrating the damaging effects of narcolepsy on the quality of life of affected individuals. Moreover, since 1992, several discoveries and changes related to narcolepsy have been made, such as: new treatment modalities - i.e., Provigil, Xyrem and more recently, atomoxetine and armodafinil; the discovery of the role of the hypocretin/orexin system in narcolepsy; recent evidence lending support to the hypothesis that narcolepsy may be an autoimmune condition; new information on the genetics of narcolepsy; and, a revised definition of narcolepsy according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders 2005. Furthermore, recent studies in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia document the negative effects of narcolepsy on the quality of life of those who have this disorder. In light of these new developments, and given the absence of a book that comprehensively covers the current thoughts and trends on Narcolepsy (as revealed by a review of current books on narcolepsy), this proposal is timely.