Sleepwalking Disorders: A Genetic Analysis

Sleepwalking Parasomnias are a sub-category of sleep disorder that involve strange and abnormal behaviors, movements and emotions that can occur during or in between sleep stages. Somnambulism, or sleepwalking disorder, is a type of parasomnia that is relatively common in childhood, but tends to subside into adulthood (Perogamvros, 2015). Sleepwalking is characterized by behaviors that are initiated during arousal from slow-wave sleep (Perogamvros, 2015). The behaviors can be simple, complex, and in some cases nonsensical or dangerous in nature. Sleepwalking walking episodes are most likely to occur during times of psychological or physiological stress, and can be triggered by various genetic, environmental and external factors (Gilles & Cataldo

Diagnosis through interviews are of little benefit as individuals rarely have any recollection of the activity that occurred during the episode (Gilles, 2003). According to the diagnostic criteria for sleepwalking disorder, an individual must experience a significant social or occupational impairment connected to the sleepwalking in order for a diagnosis of sleepwalking disorder to be made (Gilles, 2003). The diagnosis criteria also requires that the patient be checked to show no signs of dementia or other physical disorders (Szelenberger, 2005). Sleepwalking disorder can also be difficult to distinguish from sleep terrors, as both disorders involve motor movement, difficulty awakening, and the patient has no recollection of the event afterwards (Gilles, 2003). The main distinction between the two is that someone with sleep terror disorder will show signs of intense fear and panic through their behavior, such as screaming (Gilles, 2003). An accurate method for diagnosing sleepwalking disorder is through polysomnography, a technique that involves monitoring brain wave activity, breathing, heart rate and other vital signs by connecting electrodes to different parts of the body while the patient is asleep (Gilles,

Family history of sleepwalking was confirmed in 80% of individuals with sleepwalking disorder and is ten times more likely to occur than in the general public(Kale, 1987). Sleepwalking episodes can be triggered by fevers, which directly affect the nervous system (Gilles, 2003). Alcohol use, sleep deprivation, pregnancy, menstruation, hormonal changes in adolescents and intense stress can also trigger episodes of sleepwalking (Gilles, 2003). Some medications have also been known to trigger sleepwalking episodes in individuals such as anti-anxiety or sleep inducing drugs, anti seizure medications, anti-arrhythmic heart medication (Gilles, 2003). Drugs used to treat psychosis (neuroleptics), increase sleep or relaxation (hypnotics), or treat allergies (antihistamines) can also trigger sleep walking episodes in individuals (Gilles & Cataldo & Atkins, 2012). Other medical conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux, night seizures, night asthma, night arrhythmia, and psychiatric disorders, such as panic attacks, can increase the likelihood of sleepwalking (Gilles & Cataldo & Atkins,