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Sleepwalking

Definition

Sleepwalking is a type of sleep disorder. A person who is sleepwalking may walk around or do other complex behaviors while still technically asleep. It may be as simple as sitting up in bed or as complex as leaving the house and going for a drive.

Causes

It is not clear exactly what causes sleepwalking. Some people are more susceptible to sleepwalking. The sleepwalking may be triggered by:

Stress
Sleep deprivation
Illnesses with fever
Certain medications (eg, antidepressants, tranquilizers, anticonvulsants, antihistamines)
Medical illness (such as, migraine , asthma , arrhythmia , heartburn , sleep apnea )
Having a psychiatric disorders (eg, panic attack , post-traumatic stress syndrome )
Hyperthyroidism

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your risk of sleepwalking include:

Family history of sleepwalking
Being a child (most common in preschool to preadolescence)
Problems that may disrupt sleep such as bed wetting or sleep apnea

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is an abnormal condition of the thyroid. It can affect many of the body's systems, including glands in the brain that can interfere with proper sleep.

Symptoms

Along with walking during sleep, other symptoms can include:

Sitting up in bed and repeating certain movements (eg, rubbing eyes, fumbling with clothes)
Talking in your sleep
Difficulty arousing during a sleepwalking episode
Doing inappropriate behavior during a sleepwalking episode (eg, urinating in closets)
Becoming violent when a person tries to wake you
Not remembering the event

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. You will be asked about your:

Family history
Fatigue
Medication
Underlying illness or stress

Your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist. You may need to have a sleep study done in a medical clinic.

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:

Strategies to Prevent Injury

Your doctor will help you prevent injury during sleepwalking by recommending that you:

Remove dangerous objects from your room
Keep doors and windows closed and locked

Hypnosis

Some cases of sleepwalking can be treated with hypnosis .

Awakening

Your doctor will ask you to keep track of what time of night the sleepwalking tends to occur. You then schedule a wake up just before the sleepwalking tends to occur. This may help stop the sleepwalking.

Medications

These medications may be helpful in reducing the incidence of sleepwalking:

Sedative-hypnotics
Antidepressants

Prevention

To help reduce the chances of sleepwalking, take the following steps:

Increase the amount of time scheduled for sleep.
Avoid alcohol and certain medications that may trigger sleepwalking.
Have a regular bedtime routine.

RESOURCES

American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.familydoctor.org/

National Sleep Foundation http://www.sleepfoundation.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES

About Kids Health http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/

Better Sleep Council Canada http://www.bettersleep.ca/

References

Sleepwalking. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated January 1, 2011. Accessed August 13, 2012.

Guilleminault C, Kirisoglu C, Bao, G, et al. Adult chronic sleepwalking and its treatment based on polysomnography. Brain . 2005; 128:1062-1069.

Guilleminault C, Palombini L, Pelayo R, Chervin RD. Sleepwalking and sleep terrors in prepubertal children: what triggers them?. Pediatrics . 2003;111:17-25.

Hafeez ZH, Kalinowski CM. Somnambulism induced by quitapine: two case reports and a review of the literature. CNS Spectrums. 2007;12:910-912.

Pressman MR. Factors that predispose, prime and precipitate NREM parasomnias in adults: clinical and forensic implications. Sleep Med Rev . 2007:11:5-30

Sleepwalking. National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-related-problems/sleepwalking Accessed August 13, 2012.

Sleepwalking. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/sleepwalking.html . Accessed August 13, 2012.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Brian Randall, MD
Review Date: 10/2012 -
Update Date: 10/11/2012 -

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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