Somnambulism (Sleep Walking) Follow-up

  • Author: Gregory Ackroyd, MD; Chief Editor: Selim R Benbadis, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 25, 2010
 

Further Outpatient Care

Ongoing reassurance at regular health maintenance visits is usually sufficient.

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Prognosis

  • The childhood parasomnias are not associated with long-term sequelae. Although disruptive and frightening for parents in the short term, these disorders rarely cause injury. Furthermore, the prognosis for resolution with maturation is excellent.
  • Prolonged disturbed sleep may be associated with school and behavioral issues. A relationship with hyperactivity is suggested but not clear.
  • Adolescents with sleep terrors or sleepwalking have an increased prevalence of other sleep disorders, neurotic traits, and other psychiatric disorders.
  • Rare reports describe incidences of serious injury, sexual misconduct, or violent behavior occurring during somnambulism in adults. Most serious injuries have occurred as a result of leaping through windows. Some apparent "suicides" have likely been the unfortunate result of a sleep behavior. Violent behavior toward others may also rarely occur and has been used as a legal defense. The violent behavior aspect appears to occur more frequently in men than in women.
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Patient Education

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Sleep Disorders Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Disorders That Disrupt Sleep (Parasomnias), Sleepwalking, and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Gregory Ackroyd, MD  Consulting Staff, North Bay Sleep Medicine Institute

Gregory Ackroyd, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

O'Neill F D'Cruz, MD  Professor, Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Director, Pediatric Sleep Program, University of North Carolina

O'Neill F D'Cruz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Medical Association, Child Neurology Society, and North Carolina Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Stephen J Sharp, MD  Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

Stephen J Sharp, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Child Neurology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Anthony M Murro, MD  Laboratory Director, Professor, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia

Anthony M Murro, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Kenneth J Mack, MD, PhD  Senior Associate Consultant, Department of Child and Adolescent Neurology, Mayo Clinic

Kenneth J Mack, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, Child Neurology Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Neuroscience

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Selim R Benbadis, MD  Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of South Florida School of Medicine, Tampa General Hospital

Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: UCB Pharma Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Lundbeck Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Cyberonics Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Ortho McNeil Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Sleepmed/DigiTrace Speaking, consulting

References

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