Sleepwalking

Diagnosis

To diagnose sleepwalking, a healthcare professional reviews your medical history and the symptoms you experience. This evaluation helps identify whether another condition may be contributing to the episodes. A physical exam is often part of the process, allowing the healthcare professional to look for issues that may be confused with sleepwalking, such as nighttime seizures, panic attacks or other sleep disorders.

You may be asked to describe your symptoms. In many cases, people learn about their sleepwalking from others. If you have a sleep partner, the healthcare professional may ask whether they have noticed behaviors that suggest sleepwalking. Both you and your sleep partner may be asked to complete a questionnaire about your sleep habits. Sharing any family history of sleepwalking also can be helpful.

In some situations, an overnight sleep study, called a polysomnography, may be recommended. During this study, sensors placed on the body measure and record brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing and movements of the eyes and legs. You may also be videotaped during the study to capture sleep behaviors throughout the night.

More information: Sleepwalking care at Mayo Clinic, Polysomnography (sleep study)

Treatment

Occasional sleepwalking often does not require treatment, and many children outgrow it by their teenage years. Treatment may be considered when sleepwalking creates safety concerns, disrupts others, or causes embarrassment or significant sleep disruption. The focus of treatment is typically on safety and identifying or correcting what may be causing the episodes.

Treatment options may include:

• Treating underlying conditions if sleepwalking is connected to lack of sleep, another sleep disorder or a medical issue.
• Adjusting medicines when sleepwalking is thought to be triggered by a drug.
• Using anticipatory awakenings, which involve waking the person about 15 minutes before the usual time an episode occurs and keeping them awake briefly before allowing them to fall asleep again.
• Using medicines such as benzodiazepines or certain antidepressants if recommended by a healthcare professional.
• Learning self-hypnosis from a trained professional familiar with parasomnias to promote deep relaxation and reduce unwanted sleep behaviors.
• Attending therapy or counseling, where a mental health professional can offer strategies to improve sleep, manage stress and teach relaxation or self-hypnosis techniques.