sleepwalking (redirected from Somanbulism)

sleepwalking /sleep·walk·ing/ (slēp´wawk″ing) somnambulism.

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sleep·walk·ing (slpwôkng)

n.

The act of walking or performing another activity associated with wakefulness while asleep or in a sleeplike state. Also called noctambulism, somnambulism.

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sleepwalk v.

sleepwalker n.

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sleepwalking.

See somnambulism.

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sleepwalking

Somnambulism Psychiatry A sleep disorder characterized by walking or other activity while seemingly asleep Etiology, children Fatigue, sleep loss, anxiety Adults Mental disorders, drug reactions, abuse substances, alcohol, medical conditions–eg, partial complex seizures, elderly organic brain syndrome, REM behavior disorders; the activity may include sitting up and appearing awake, while actually asleep, arising and walking around, or complex activities–eg, moving furniture, going to bathroom, dressing and undressing, and other activities, including driving a car; the episode can be very brief–a few secs or mins or last for 30+ mins; sleep walkers may be confused or disoriented after awakening; injuries caused by such things as tripping and loss of balance are common for sleep walkers; SW is most common in children aged 6 to 12 yrs old and may run in families