What Is It?

A person who is sleepwalking walks or makes other movements that seem purposeful in a state of partial wakefulness from deep sleep. Contrary to popular belief, sleepwalkers don't act out their dreams. Sleepwalking doesn't take place during the dreaming stage of sleep.

Sleepwalking (also called somnambulism) is common in school-age children. One study estimates that as many as 15% of children ages 5 to 12 years walk in their sleep at least once. Repeated sleepwalking is more common in males and frequently is associated with nighttime bedwetting.

Experts believe that sleepwalking probably occurs because the brain's ability to regulate sleep/wake cycles is still immature. Most children outgrow the symptoms as their nervous systems develop. Sleepwalking that begins later in life or lasts into adulthood may have psychological causes, such as extreme stress or, rarely, medical causes such as epilepsy.

Sleep terrors (also called night terrors or pavor nocturnus) are a related disorder that usually occurs in young children. Sleepwalking and sleep terrors tend to run in families.

Symptoms

The key symptom of sleepwalking is purposeful movements done while in a state of partial awakening from deep sleep. Some sleepwalkers simply sit up in bed and move their legs. Others carry out more complex tasks such as dressing and undressing, eating or urinating.

Sleepwalking episodes usually occur one to two hours after going to sleep and last from one to 30 minutes. A sleepwalker has open eyes and a blank expression, and is usually difficult, if not impossible, to awaken. The next morning, he or she won't remember the episode.

In sleep terrors, a child suddenly sits up in bed one or two hours after falling asleep, exhibits intense fear or agitation, and may scream or cry out. The child's eyes are open but he or she is still asleep, is unaware that others are in the room, and cannot be comforted or awakened. As the disturbance subsides, the child returns to deep sleep. When the child wakes up in the morning, he or she cannot recall the sleep terrors.

Sleep terrors are different from nightmares - frightening dreams that often can be recalled the next morning in vivid detail.