Sleepwalking (cont.)
John Mersch, MD, FAAP
Dr. Mersch received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, and prior to entering the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine, was a graduate student (attaining PhD candidate status) in Experimental Pathology at USC. He attended internship and residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
In this Article
- What is sleepwalking?
- What are the causes, incidence, and risk factors of sleepwalking?
- What are associated factors to consider?
- What are symptoms of sleepwalking?
- What are the signs and tests for sleepwalking?
- What other conditions will my doctor consider before diagnosing sleepwalking?
- What is the treatment for sleepwalking?
- What is the prognosis of sleepwalking?
- What are the complications of sleepwalking?
- When should you call your health care practitioner about sleepwalking?
- How can I prevent sleepwalking?
- Sleepwalking At A Glance
- Find a local Sleep Specialist in your town
What are associated factors to consider?
Sleepwalking seems to be associated with inherited (genetic), environmental, physiologic, and medical factors.
Genetic factors
Sleepwalking occurs more frequently in identical twins, and is 10 times more likely to occur if a first-degree relative has a history of sleepwalking.
Environmental factors
Sleep deprivation, chaotic sleep schedules, fever, stress, magnesium deficiency, and alcohol intoxication can trigger sleepwalking. Drugs, for example, sedative/hypnotics (drugs that promote sleep), neuroleptics (drugs used to treat psychosis), minor tranquilizers (drugs that produce a calming effect), stimulants (drugs that increase activity), and antihistamines (drugs used to treat symptoms of allergies) can cause sleepwalking.
Physiologic factors
Physiologic factors that may contribute to sleepwalking include:
- the length and depth of slow wave sleep, which is greater in young
children, may be a factor in the increased frequency of sleepwalking in
children;
- conditions such as pregnancy and menstruation
are known to increase the frequency of sleepwalking;
- associated medical conditions;
- arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms);
- fever;
- gastroesophageal reflux (acid
reflux - food or liquid regurgitating from the stomach into
the food pipe);
- nighttime asthma;
- nighttime seizures (convulsions);
- obstructive sleep apnea (condition in which breathing stops temporarily
while sleeping); and
- psychiatric disorders, for example, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, or dissociative states (for example, multiple personality disorder)
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