Sleepwalking

Definition

Sleepwalking, also called somnambulism, occurs when a still-sleeping individual gets up and walks around. It may also be considered sleepwalking if the individual simply sits up in bed during his or her sleep. Episodes occur during deep sleep, and usually take place in the first third of the night. They last on average six minutes, but have been reported to have happened for as long as one hour. (1)

During these sleep walking episodes, the sleeper's eyes are usually open, but may appear "glassy" or as though they were looking through someone (They may be closed). Usually, but not always, the sleep walker is able to avoid objects during his or her nighttime journey. The person is not responsive to any other individuals who may try to communicate with him or her. Usually, the sleeper has no memory of the episode. If there is any memory of the occurrence, it is a vague one. Sleep terrors may also occur in conjunction with sleepwalking.

Sufferers

This disorder is usually experienced by children ages 4 - 8 years. It may occur up to 15 % in children, although statistics are not certain. (2, also see 1) It occurs more frequently in boys. Some adults or elderly may also sleepwalk.

Cause

Sleepwalking tends to occur in children whose family has a sleepwalking history. There is no particular cause, however lack of sleep or irregularity of sleep tend to trigger frequency of sleep walking episodes.

Advice

If you live with a sleepwalker there are some things that can be done to help the sufferer's safety. Dangerous objects should be removed from the person's room. If need be, the patient might want to think about moving his or her bedroom to the ground floor, for safety. Sleepwalkers have had accidents previously with both stairways and windows. Windows should be locked and doors closed. You may want to put a bell on the sleepwalker's door to arouse you when the sleepwalker is about to leave his or her room. It is best not to try to arouse the sleepwalker during the episode, but to gently guide him or her back to bed.

Treatment

Treatment with medication is rarely given to children who are sleepwalkers. Parents are given advice on how to increase their child's safety during the night, and the child will usually grow out of the disorder by the time he or she is a teenager. The child should also be sure to get enough sleep and to maintain a consistent sleep schedule to lessen the chance of a sleep walking occurrence. Somnambulism benzodiazepines, a type of sleeping pill. Also, since sleep walking in adults is often associated with stress or psychological problems, treatment sometimes will also include psychotherapy.

Elderly who suffer from sleepwalking usually do so because of either medication they are taking, a medical illness which they also have, or dementia.

(1). Dr. Epstein's source gives something that varies from these numbers which I had found repeated in my general reading preparation. (Emilie)

"Thirty percent of all children between the ages of five and 12 have walked in their sleep at least once, and persistent sleepwalking occurs in 1% to 6% of youngsters." He says that sleepwalkers usually appears about 2 hours after sleep begins. Epstein, Bruce A., M. D. The Doctor's Office: Sleepwalking in Children. All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL http://www.allkids.org/Epstein/Articles/Sleepwalking.shtml

(2 Chopra, Deepak. Restful Sleep: the complete mind/body program for overcoming insomnia. New York: Harmony Bookds, 1994. p. 113.

(3"The Rest of the Sleep Disorders: Sleepwalking." http://www.sleepnet.com/rest/restinf.shtml " Medical reports show that about 18% of the population are prone to sleepwalking. It is more common in children than in adolescents and adults. Boys are more likely to sleepwalk than girls. The highest prevalence of sleepwalking was 16.7% at age 11 to 12 years of age. Sleepwalking can have a genetic tendency. If a child begins to sleepwalk at the age of 9, it often lasts into adulthood. "