Sleepwalking and Sleep Terros

Park, Y W

Abstract

To provide the physician with adequate information to diagnose and treat sleepwalking and sleep terrors, the author reviewed clinical features, epidemiology, causative and precipitating factors, polysomnography, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment for these disorders. Sleepwalking and sleep terrors have been defined as disorders of arousal that occur early in the night and have their onset during stage 3 or 4 sleep. In both disorders, patients are difficult to arouse, and complete amnesia or minimal recall of the episode is frequent. Genetic, developmental, and psychological factors have been identified as causes of both sleepwalking and sleep terrors. Sleepwalking and sleep terrors typically begin in childhood or early adolescence and are usually outgrown by the end of adolescence.? When sleepwalking or sleep terrors have a post-pubertal onset or continue to adulthood, psychopathology is a more significant causative factors. The behavior that occur from deep slow-wave sleep can be painful or dangerous to the individual and/or disturbing to those close to that individual. The assessment of patients suspected of having these conditions requires a thorough medical and sleep history. The most important consideration in managing patients with sleepwalking or sleep terrors episodes is protection from injury.