The Swiss narcolepsy scale is a quick and simple questionnaire used to screen for narcolepsy type 1.

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that makes it hard for your brain to control sleep-wake cycles. This often leads to excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden bouts of sleep. The Swiss narcolepsy scale is a tool to help identify whether you have narcolepsy, specifically narcolepsy type 1 (NT1).

NT1 is linked to cataplexy, which is the sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions like laughter.

The Swiss narcolepsy scale is a short questionnaire designed to screen for NT1. It’s not a diagnostic tool on its own, but it gives doctors valuable insights to decide if further testing is necessary.

Keep reading to learn more about the Swiss narcolepsy scale, including what questions it asks and how to interpret the results.

The Swiss narcolepsy scale is widely recognized as a helpful screening tool for NT1. Studies suggest it’s about 80% to 90% accurate in identifying this condition.

Despite relatively high accuracy levels, it’s not considered the gold standard for diagnosing NT1. Rather, it’s used as a quick, cheap, and simple tool that helps doctors identify people who might have NT1 so they can refer them for more comprehensive evaluation. A sleep study known as the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) is a more accurate test that can confirm NT1 and other sleep disorders.

It’s important to note that while the Swiss narcolepsy scale can correctly identify many NT1 cases, it’s not as effective for other sleep disorders, such as the less severe type 2 narcolepsy.

The Swiss narcolepsy scale asks five questions that aim to understand your sleep habits and whether you have daytime sleepiness or cataplexy.

Here’s a breakdown of the questions:

  1. How often are you unable to fall asleep? This and the next question help doctors understand your nighttime sleep patterns.
  2. How often do you feel bad or not well-rested in the morning?
  3. How often do you take a nap during the day? This question assesses whether you have excessive daytime sleepiness.
  4. How often have you experienced weak knees or buckling of the knees during emotions like laughing, happiness, or anger?
  5. How often have you experienced sagging of the jaw during emotions like laughing, happiness, or anger? The last two questions help identify cataplexy, a key symptom of NT1.

How long does it take to fill out the questionnaire for the Swiss narcolepsy scale?

The Swiss narcolepsy scale is very quick to complete. It typically takes just a few minutes to answer all five questions. This makes it an easy, low-effort screening tool that can give your doctor a snapshot of whether narcolepsy may be causing your symptoms.

Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, your responses are scored. Each question and answer have different values, which can be either positive or negative. Your doctor will use a formula to calculate the final score. A negative final score indicates that you likely have NT1.

Even if your Swiss narcolepsy scale results don’t point toward NT1, that doesn’t rule out other sleep disorders. Therefore, your doctor may recommend further testing even if your final score doesn’t indicate narcolepsy.

If your results from the Swiss narcolepsy scale indicate a potential for NT1, your doctor will recommend additional tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests often include:

  • Polysomnography (PSG): PSG is an overnight sleep study that tracks your brain activity, heart rate, and muscle movements while you sleep.
  • Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT): MSLT measures how quickly you fall asleep in a quiet environment during the day. Falling asleep quickly and entering rapid eye movement (REM) sleep early can point to narcolepsy.
  • Lumbar puncture: Also known as a spinal tap, this test collects your cerebrospinal fluid to measure your hypocretin levels. Hypocretin is usually low in people with NT1.

A sleep specialist will then recommend treatment options if narcolepsy is confirmed. These can include:

  • medications to control daytime sleepiness and cataplexy
  • lifestyle adjustments
  • behavioral therapy

The Swiss narcolepsy scale is not the only questionnaire used to screen for sleep disorders.

Epworth sleepiness scale

The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) is another widely used tool to measure how likely you are to fall asleep in different situations. While it helps assess daytime sleepiness, it doesn’t specifically screen for narcolepsy.

Ullanlinna narcolepsy scale

The Ullanlinna narcolepsy scale (UNS) is another questionnaire designed to evaluate narcolepsy symptoms. It helps distinguish narcolepsy from sleep apnea, one of the most common sleep disorders.

Doctors can make the definitive diagnosis of narcolepsy after more in-depth testing, which typically includes PSG, MSLT, a spinal tap, and certain blood tests.

The Swiss narcolepsy scale is a quick and simple tool to screen for narcolepsy, specifically NT1. It asks five key questions about your daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. While it’s not a diagnostic tool on its own, it helps doctors decide if further testing is needed. The Swiss narcolepsy scale is relatively accurate in catching NT1, but it can miss other sleep disorders. Be sure to speak with a doctor if you experience poor sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, or any other sleep-related issues.