Somnambulism

Abstract

Introduction Although sleepwalking is a common nocturnal disturbance of young children, generally regarded as a symptomatic immaturity habit, there is considerable literature in the area of child psychiatry,^5,22,32,44most of which aims at differentiating somnambulism from night terrors.^23,35In contrast, few studies have been done on adult somnambulism. This is partly due to the fact that the adult somnambulist is not inclined, encouraged, or forced to seek psychiatric consultation unless he is in the Armed Forces or under indictment for a crime allegedly committed during a somnambulistic state. For these reasons, forensic^5,6,24,41and military psychiatrists^{20,21,35,39,40,42,45}have written most extensively about somnambulism in late adolescence and adulthood, somnambulism in connection with homicide, and also the inherent dangers of military life to the somnambulist. It is well known in the naval service that the sleepwalker risks a