Sleepwalking: between sleep and wakefulness

Today we talk about sleepwalking . Who hasn’t ever heard of people walking, talking or sitting alone when they are sleeping? Stories and anecdotes are often told about one or more members of the family circle who have come to walk around the house alone wanting to open doors or windows, or who talked or “called” people in their sleep.

Moreover, after these episodes, when the next morning the protagonist of the event is told what happened, it is rare that he remembers anything. The truth is that sleepwalking , also known as noctambulism , is so strange that it has been shrouded in a haze of rumour and myth (such as the belief that it is advisable not to wake up the sleepwalker). This short article aims to clarify doubts about this phenomenon.

Sleepwalking: definition and symptoms

For Navarro and Tortajada (1994) “sleepwalking is a generally benign sleep disorder that is characterized by brief episodes of wandering that appear during slow wave sleep (fourth phase), almost in the first third of the night”. These episodes, which usually last from 40 seconds to 40 minutes, can include almost any type of behavior or expressing incoherent or very clear words or phrases.

As for the symptoms, Navarro and Tortajada give us the following characteristics about the sleepwalker’s behavior:

  • They can lift the sheets, tuck them in, and go back to bed and sleep
  • Getting up and walking around the room or out of it
  • Opening your eyes during sleep
  • Clumsy motor activity
  • Playing musical instruments
  • Drinking liquids, etc.

Appearance of sleepwalking

Sleepwalking is therefore a sleep disorder, as it involves an alteration of normal behaviour during this phase of daily life and can be detrimental to the individual’s well-being. But beyond its basic effects sleepwalking can start to manifest itself in different ways.

This sleep disorder is known to tend to occur in childhood with a prevalence of 20% and its onset is usually between the ages of 4 and 8. Although many scientists claim that it is rare to find this disorder in adults, there are data that corroborate the existence of this disorder in adults, perhaps not in a high percentage, but in a significant degree of 1 to 3%. In people who experience it during adulthood, it is worth emphasizing that both in its symptomatology and etiology it differs from sleepwalking typical of childhood.

In a study by Dr. Guiezzepi Plazzi of the University of Bologna and published in the journal Neurological Science , it is stated that children aged 4 to 6 years are more likely to present. It also concludes that in some people there is an impulse to have sexual relations during a sleepwalking event, (this is called sleepwalking sexual behaviour, or sexomnia).

Causes of sleepwalking

To date, there is no unified, evidence-based theory to explain the causes of sleepwalking. What seems to be confirmed is that sleepwalking is hereditary: it has been concluded that between 70 and 80% of sleepwalkers have family members who have had a sleep disorder during their lives .

Some mental health professionals indicate that sleepwalking in children would be associated with fatigue and anxiety. As far as the adult stage is concerned, this could be associated with the consumption of some type of drugs.

Treatment of noctambulism

At present, there is no specific treatment for this sleep disorder. What does exist are preventive measures, which are aimed at children who suffer from it and their parents, who must be alert so that when an episode occurs the subject does not endanger his life.

If these episodes have occurred both in adolescence and adulthood, professionals recommend relaxation techniques, and as alternative techniques such as hypnosis, yoga, etc. (as long as it complements a psychological intervention ). Pharmacological treatment may be recommended if the sufferer is an adult and if so indicated by a medical psychiatrist and according to his or her indications.

Today science is still working to find the origin of sleepwalking. In the meantime, we will continue to be intrigued by the behavior of a person who, while asleep, can act like an awake person.

Bibliographic references:

  • Navarro, F. and Tortajada, R. (1994). Behavioral Psychology , Volume 2, Faculty of Psychology University of Málaga and Valencia.
  • Dee Unglaub Silverthorn, (2009). Human physiology, an integrated approach . Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana.
  • Caballo, V. (2008). Manual of Modification and Conduct . Ecuador: Faculty of Psychological Sciences of the University of Guayaquil.

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