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A case report of somnambulism associated with olanzapine

Farhad Faridhosseini1, Azar Zamani2

  • 1Psychiatry and behavioral Sciences Research Center, Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
|March 20, 2014
PubMed

Insights

This case report details somnambulism, or sleepwalking, in a schizophrenia patient treated with olanzapine. Reducing the olanzapine dosage resolved the sleepwalking symptoms, suggesting a link between the medication and sleep disturbances.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Somnambulism, characterized by sleepwalking and complex behaviors during sleep, can be influenced by psychiatric medications.
  • Antipsychotic medications, particularly those used for schizophrenia, are increasingly recognized for potential side effects impacting sleep architecture.

Observation:

  • A case report involving a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia experiencing an episode of somnambulism.
  • The somnambulism occurred during the remission phase of an acute psychotic episode, following treatment initiation with olanzapine.

Findings:

  • The patient's somnambulism symptoms resolved after a reduction in the olanzapine dosage.
  • No recurrence of sleepwalking or related symptoms was observed during a 6-month follow-up period after dosage adjustment.

Implications:

  • This case highlights a potential association between olanzapine use and the emergence of somnambulism in patients with schizophrenia.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms linking atypical antipsychotics to parasomnias and to guide clinical management strategies.
Keywords:
OlanzapineSleepwalkingSomnambulism

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