Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrevalenceSymptomsCauses and Risk FactorsDiagnosis and Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Prevalence
Symptoms
Causes and Risk Factors
Diagnosis and Treatment
Sleepwalkinginvolves walking or engaging in other complex behaviors while asleep. The condition is more common in children, but adults can also experience it.
Sleepwalkers tend to remain indeep sleepduring sleepwalking episodes. It may be difficult to wake the sleepwalker, and they likely will not recall the incident when awake.
Sleepwalking has unique symptoms, causes, and risk factors. Treatment usually is not required. However, sometimes both medicinal and non-medicinal therapies are beneficial to cases that do require treatment.
Read on to learn more about sleepwalking and its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
It is estimated that up to 4% of adults sleepwalk.That number is significantly higher in children. Studies have found that up to 29% of children sleepwalk at least once between the ages of two and thirteen.The onset or persistence of sleepwalking is quite common and generally not related to any mental health disorders or neurological problems.
Sleepwalking involves more than just walking around during sleep. It includes other activities while sleeping, with walking being the most obvious. Some people will sit up in bed, look around, or walk around their homes. Others may leave home or drive long distances.
Sleepwalking usually occurs during deep sleep stages 3 and 4, or within a few hours of falling asleep. The sleepwalker may look or behave as if they are partially awake during episodes. In addition to walking around, other symptoms of sleepwalking are:
Causes and Risk Factors
Sleepwalking is a type of sleep disorder called a parasomnia—a behavior carried out while asleep.
The main factors that contribute to sleepwalking include sleep deprivation, stress, fever, and an interrupted sleep schedule.
Risk factors for sleepwalking include both genetics and age. Sleepwalking appears to run in families, and it’s common in people with at least one parent who has a history of sleepwalking. The risk increases if both parents have a sleepwalking history.Sleepwalking is more common in children; adult-onset sleepwalking tends to be related to health and other sleep disorder conditions.
Sleepwalking in young children may be associated with sleep apnea, a sleep disorder in which breathing is interrupted.The symptoms of sleep apnea in children are different than in adults.Sleep apneain children causes snoring, daytime sleepiness, and breathing interruption for longer periods than with adults. Sleep apnea may also be associated with bedwetting and nightmares.
Sleepwalking in children is common, and treatment usually is not needed. Parents simply need to keep a close eye on a child who sleepwalks to keep them safe from injury. An adult who sleepwalks, however, may have a greater risk of injury and should seek the advice of a healthcare professional who specializes in sleep disorders if the behavior is problematic.
The doctor will want the sleepwalker to keep asleep diaryfor at least two weeks to determine how sleep is affecting their life. Diagnostic tests usually are not necessary, but the doctor will look at medical history and present drug, alcohol, and medication use. The sleep doctor will then try to determine the cause of sleepwalking.
Common Causes of SleepwalkingAnother sleep disorderMedical disordersMedication useMental health conditionsAlcohol or drug abuse
Common Causes of Sleepwalking
Another sleep disorderMedical disordersMedication useMental health conditionsAlcohol or drug abuse
Medications
If the sleepwalker is at risk of injury, if someone experiences significant daytime sleepiness, or if the sleepwalking is causing household disruption, conservative treatment, such as lifestyle change, is usually the first-line approach.
Rarely, medications may be prescribed for sleepwalking if conservative treatment is unsuccessful. These may includeestazolam,clonazepam, ortrazodone. These medications usually need to be taken for only a few weeks. There may be cases in which sleepwalking returns after discontinuing medication, but the episodes are usually brief and end up resolving.
Non-Medicinal Treatment Options
Non-medicinal options may also help for long-term treatment of sleepwalking. Relaxation techniques, mental imagery, and anticipatory awakening have all been proven to be effective.
Anticipatory awakening, for instance, involves a parent waking the child hours after the child has fallen asleep. The parent may wake the child again right before the usual time of the sleepwalking incidents. This method has been shown to be effective in several studies and could help to completely eradicate the sleepwalking episodes.
Prevention
The following measures can help prevent sleepwalking:
Summary
Sleepwalking is usually not a serious condition and can be resolved without treatment, especially in children. When treatment is necessary, the condition can be treated effectively. Drug treatment for sleepwalking may be needed when there is an underlying health condition or when sleepwalking is a safety concern for the sleepwalker or others. Non-medicinal treatment options are also available and are usually the first recommendation.
Causes and Treatments for Sleepwalking in Children
10 Sources
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