Health Topics for Mental and Emotional Health

Department of Psychiatry

Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking is not a hard disorder to diagnose. When someone gets out of bed and walks around while still asleep, that person is sleepwalking. If you have ever seen a sleepwalker, you have probably noticed certain characteristics.

A sleepwalker:

• has a blank, staring expression
• can be awakened only with a lot of effort
• does not seem to hear or notice anyone
• cannot remember the episode the next day and
• may be confused at first when she or he wakes up

Some people have mild episodes and may only sit up in bed. Other people have been known to get out of bed, walk up and down stairs, leave buildings, and so forth. Some people may try to eat, drink, or use the bathroom while asleep.

Many children sleepwalk. Out of ten average children, between one and three will sleepwalk at some time. Most children will grow out of it by age 15. Sleepwalking runs in families to a large extent. It occurs in equal numbers of boys and girls.

There is a myth that it is dangerous to wake a sleepwalker. This is not true. It may be difficult to wake a sleepwalker, but it is not dangerous. The easiest way to deal with a sleepwalker is to take him or her by the hand and lead her or him back to bed. You may need to take precautions if you have a sleepwalker in the house. Do not lock someone in a room. This is very dangerous in case of fire. However, there are inexpensive motion sensors and other alarms that can be set up to let you know if a sleepwalker is on the move.

Sometimes practical solutions are best. One authority has suggested that if your spouse is a sleepwalker, you should push the bed against one wall and have him or her sleep on the inside. The only way she or he can get out of bed is to crawl over you, which wakes you up. Then you wake the sleepwalker up, and you both go back to sleep.

Sleepwalking in an adult who has no previous history of it can sometimes indicate other medical problems. If this happens to you or someone you care about, make sure that you consult your healthcare provider for an evaluation.

Most of the time, sleepwalking is not considered a true disorder. Sleepwalking disorder is diagnosed only when the sleepwalking starts to interfere with home, work, school, or social life. There are some treatments available for sleepwalking. Ask your primary healthcare provider for more information.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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