Which patient is most likely to have a history of cataplexy?

A history of cataplexy is predominantly associated with narcolepsy, particularly narcolepsy type 1. Cataplexy is characterized by sudden, brief episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis triggered by strong emotions, which are a hallmark symptom of this sleep disorder. Narcolepsy involves excessive daytime sleepiness and the presence of REM sleep phenomena during the waking state, one of which is cataplexy.

In contrast, the other conditions mentioned do not typically present with cataplexy. Insomnia primarily refers to difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep and does not involve the sudden muscle weakness associated with narcolepsy. Restless legs syndrome is characterized by an urge to move the legs and does not include episodes of cataplexy. Sleep apnea is primarily characterized by breathing interruptions during sleep and is unrelated to the sudden muscle control loss seen in cataplexy. Thus, the connection between narcolepsy and cataplexy makes the identification of the patient with narcolepsy as the one most likely to have a history of cataplexy accurate.