Sleepwalking Brochure: The Lowdown....

An Outreach Project by Ebony Mia Smallman | Return To Outreach Projects 2010

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The following is a brochure created for Stanford Sleep and Dreams. If it is difficult to read using the images, you may view the text here.

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Fun Facts:

Sleepwalking was first used as a defence in a murder case in 1846, where the jury found the man not guilty!

Sleepwalking lasts as little as 30 seconds or as long as 30 minutes

Sleepwalking has been described in medical literature dating before Hippocrates (460 BC-370 BC)

Sleepwalking: aka Somnambulism

Definition: when a person appears to be awake and moving around with open eyes, but is actually asleep.

Fact: Sleepwalkers have no memory of their actions

When: Occurs early on in the night during deep non-REM sleep, usually stage 3 or 4.

Who does it affect: Sleepwalking is most common in children ages 4-6, usually disappears in adolescence. It appears to run in families.

Sleepwalking can be dangerous because people are unaware of their actions and can injure themselves.

Factors that Contribute

Genetic

i)sleepwalking occurs more often in identical twins

ii)sleepwalking is 10 times more likely to occur if a first-degree relative has the disorder

Environmental

i)sleep deprivation

ii)chaotic sleep schedule

iii)fever

iv)stress

vi)magnesium deficiency

vii)alcohol

Physiological

i)length and depth of slow-wave sleep (greater in younger children)

ii)conditions such as pregnancy or menstruation

Symptoms

Eyes are usually open, but ams are not extended (a common stereotype depicted in movies/pictures etc).

Suffers are often clumsy or dazed in their actions.

Responses are slow and lacking in coherence. If the person goes back to sleep without waking up, they are unlikely to remember the event in the morning.

Treatment at Home

get adequate sleep

meditate or do relaxation exercises

keep a safe sleeping environment, removing any dangerous articles from close proximity

avoid any kind of stimuli before bed

sleep in a bed on the ground floor to avoid a fall and avoid bunk beds!

lock the doors/windows

put an alarm on the bedroom door

Medical Help

-Benzodiazephines or tricyclic antidepressants have proven useful.

-Medications are often stopped after 3-5 weeks without a reoccurance. Be sure to remember that symptoms may increase slightly just after the discontinuation!

Other therapies:

-Behavioral therapists or hypnotists can help with relaxation techniques and mental imagery

-Anticipatory awakening: wake the person approximately 20 minutes before their usual sleepwalking time and keep them awake throughout the time during which the episode normally happens

Sleepwalking, night terrors and confusional arousals are related, common Non-REM disorders tend to overlap with some symptoms so make sure you consult a professional to find out exactly which one you may have.

Other conditions that often accompany sleepwalking are:

-Sleep apnea (short periods when breathing stops during sleep)

- bedwetting

- night terrors

Prevention

1) limit stress

2) avoid alcohol intake

3) avoid sleep deprivation

For more information or if you have any further concerns please contact one of the following:

American Sleep Disorders Association
1 Westbrook Corporate Center
Suite 920
Westchester, IL, 60154
(708) 492-0930
www.asda.org

National Sleep Foundation
1522 K Street, NW
Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-3471 
www.sleepfoundation.org

American Sleep Association
110 W. 9th Street Suite 826
Wilmington DE 19801
www.sleepassociation.rog