A sudden attack of sleep with cataplexy for over three months is characteristic of which disorder?

The presence of sudden attacks of sleep combined with episodes of cataplexy for over three months is indicative of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that is primarily characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the day. These episodes can occur at any time and are often triggered by strong emotions, such as laughter or surprise, leading to cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle tone.

A key feature of narcolepsy is the duration and frequency of these sleep attacks, which typically extend beyond three months. This underscores the chronic nature of the condition as well as the specific hallmark symptoms associated with it. Although primary hypersomnia also involves excessive sleepiness, it does not specifically include the cataplexy element. Conditions like insomnia and sleep apnea differ significantly from narcolepsy in that they do not present with uncontrolled sleep attacks or cataplexy. Thus, narcolepsy is the correct classification for the symptoms described in the scenario.