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Published on: August 2, 2017
Sleepwalking and other ambulatory behaviours during sleep
G Plazzi1, R Vetrugno, F Provini
1Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Ugo Foscolo 7, I-40123 Bologna, Italy. giuseppe.plazzi@unibo.it
Summary
Nocturnal sleep disorders like sleepwalking and REM sleep behavior disorder involve complex motor automatisms. Home video recordings can aid diagnosis when lab-based polysomnography is insufficient.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Nocturnal sleep disorders manifest as complex motor automatisms during sleep.
- Sleepwalking involves arousal from deep sleep with complex behaviors and amnesia.
- REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) occurs during REM sleep, sometimes with violent movements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate between various causes of nocturnal sleep disorders presenting with complex motor automatisms.
- To highlight the diagnostic utility of home video recordings in conjunction with polysomnography.
- To discuss the overlap syndromes and differential diagnosis of sleep-related movement disorders.
Main Methods:
- Video polysomnography (VPSG) in a sleep laboratory.
- Home-based audio-video recordings of sleep events.
- Clinical evaluation and neurological examination.
Main Results:
- Sleepwalking is characterized by arousal from slow-wave sleep with complex behaviors and amnesia.
- RBD involves motor activity during REM sleep, which can be injurious.
- Nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy can present with stereotyped motor attacks mimicking sleep disorders, with potential overlap.
Conclusions:
- Home video recordings are valuable for diagnosing complex nocturnal events that are difficult to capture in a lab.
- Differentiating sleepwalking, RBD, and nocturnal epilepsy is crucial for appropriate management.
- Understanding arousal disorders and epilepsy is key to managing these complex sleep-related conditions.
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