Confusional arousals

Confusional arousals, also known as sleep drunkenness, are parasomnias characterized by episodes of confusion, disorientation, and inappropriate behavior upon awakening from sleep. Individuals may appear dazed, respond slowly, or have difficulty understanding their surroundings, often with no memory of the event. These episodes typically occur during transitions from deep sleep to wakefulness.

This code is used when a patient presents with documented episodes of confusional arousals, often reported by the patient or a sleep partner. Documentation should describe the characteristic disorientation, slow responsiveness, or inappropriate behavior upon awakening. This diagnosis is typically made after ruling out other causes of nocturnal confusion, such as seizures or medication side effects.

• Differentiate from sleepwalking (F51.3) or sleep terrors (F51.4), which have distinct behavioral patterns.
• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "confusional arousals" or "sleep drunkenness" rather than general confusion.
• Consider co-occurring sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, which may exacerbate these episodes.