Somnambulism (Sleepwalking)

Verified By Apollo Hospitals September 17, 2024

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Somnambulism Definition

Sleep walking or somnambulism is a common behavior disorder among children and adults which originates in deep sleep and manifests in the form of walking or indulging in a series of complex behaviors while asleep. Typically, all the action happens in deep sleep and hence, he/she may find it difficult to wake up and hence may not remember the incident once awake.

Somnambulism Symptoms

The symptoms are:

Simply waking up in the middle of deep sleep
Sitting up and looking around
Walking around the house
Leaving the house in deep slumber
Driving long distances in a state of sleep
Talking (somniloquy) or screaming in sleep
Sleepiness during the day
No memory of the event
Associated injury
Inappropriate social behaviour like urinating in closets

Somnambulism Risk Factors

The risks associated with sleep walking are:

Difficulty in waking up the sleepwalker
The dangers of not waking up a sleepwalker
Counter-productive retaliation in the form of physical attacks by the sleepwalker

Somnambulism Diagnosis

The symptoms of sleepwalking and associated triggers are the basis for the diagnosis for sleepwalking. A deeper investigation of any underlying illness is a must. There could be other factors contributing to sleepwalking – lack of sleep, fatigue, medication, stress, alcohol and the like.

Somnambulism Treatment

There is no clear marked treatment for this condition. Some of the general approaches are –

Starts with reassurance that it is a passing phase, benign by nature and will disappear.
Avoid any auditory, tactile and visual stimuli during the sleep cycle.
Improving sleep conditions and the hygiene around it may gradually eliminate the problem.
Medical advice has to be sought to rule out and prevent any physical injury during the sleep walking period.
Hypnosis and pharmacological therapies have improved the quality of sleep and helped treat this disease.