Sleepwalking Disorder

 Sleepwalking disorder, somnambulism or noctambulism, is a disorder of arousal and occurs most commonly during childhood , 3 -10 years or early adolescence. It involves a complex set of behaviors beginning during non REM sleep, mosty occurs during stage 3 and 4 , the deepest levels of sleep. This state is very similar to an hypnotic state, the person is suggestible, and may respond to a direction from an onlooker, without being aware of what is happening, and remaining amnesic for any events which may take place during this state. 

The person engages in activities normally associated with the waking state, walking may be the most comon , but may also include such activities as cooking, dressing, cleaning, and driving. This last activity has occurred in a number of adults who were taking the prescription sleeping drug Ambien, late night eating often occurred in this group.

Sleepwalkers engage in their activities with their eyes open so they can navigate their surroundings, not with their eyes closed and their arms outstretched as popular media would have one believe. The victims' eyes may have a glazed or empty appearance and if questioned, the subject will be slow to answer or will be unable to respond in an intelligible manner.

Accidents may happen as the person is performing actions without the control of their conscious mind, cooking and driving being highly dangerous activities to perform durinbg sleep. Some people may even commit criminal offenses while asleep, since the usual inhibitions are not in place, however, since sleepwalking is not a mental disease, it may be difficult to avoid prosecution for any criminal offences committed during sleepwalking. 

Waking a sleepwalker, despite claims to the contrary, is not dangerous to them. It may leave them disoriented or embarrassed, but not directly harm them. There is some danger that some sleepwalkers will become aggressive if they are disturbed while in this state, without realizing what was going on.

Sleepwalking typically lasts no longer than thiry minutes. The causes of sleepwalking may be genetic, stress, not enough sleep, medications, and  dementia.

 Read more: Diagnosing sleep apnea