大多数非快速眼动睡眠相关的事件发生在儿童并随着潜在疾病性睡眠障碍的治疗或年龄的增长有所改善。其他少见的异态睡眠类型，例如快速眼动睡眠行为障碍 (RBD) 可能有严重的并发症或者是其他神经功能受损的早期预警。快速眼动睡眠行为障碍可能比发作性睡病的症状提前出现。[21]Nevsimalova S, Prihodova I, Kemlink D, et al. REM behavior disorder (RBD) can be one of the first symptoms of childhood narcolepsy. Sleep Med. 2007;8:784-786.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17569582?tool=bestpractice.com[22]Stores G. Rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in children and adolescents. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008;50:728-732.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2008.03071.x/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18834385?tool=bestpractice.com[77]Bonakis A, Howard RS, Ebrahim IO, et al. REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) and its associations in young patients. Sleep Med. 2009;10:641-645.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19109063?tool=bestpractice.com[78]Bonakis A, Howard RS, Williams A. Narcolepsy presenting as REM sleep behaviour disorder. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2008;110:518-520.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18343568?tool=bestpractice.com[79]Dauvilliers Y, Rompre S, Gagnon JF, et al. REM sleep characteristics in narcolepsy and REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep. 2007;30:844-849.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1978363/?tool=pubmedhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17682654?tool=bestpractice.com作为夜间事件的并发症，家长或家庭成员有可能受伤。有暴力行为倾向的疾患，例如快速眼动睡眠行为障碍增加了家长遭受严重非故意伤害的可能性。
