THE SLEEP WALKING ADULT
The often disturbing world of the sleep walking adult. This is Dr.
Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking of Health. When children sleep walk,
it's typically considered the sign of an immature nervous system, a trait
that tends to run in families, and one that cures itself as the child grows
up. Adults who sleep walk, on the other hand, can be showing us a
lot more than their motor skills. Most adults who sleep walk rate
a psychiatric diagnosis. In 4 out of 5 adults who sleep walk, mental
stress is an important factor, and most adults who sleep walk also have
a history of another sleep disorder called "night terrors." Unfortunately,
the aftermath in an adult may involve injury either to the sleep walker
or to others. Sleep walking adults frequently hurt themselves and
sometimes exercise violent behavior, even, at times, sexual assault on
others. And remarkably, those who sleep walk have no memory for the
sleep walking event or their actions.
There are times when those who appear to sleep walk really do know
what's going on--- they're malingering, faking the sleep walking state
in order to gain attention, perform a violent or dishonest act or be sexually
aggressive. Sleep experts can usually distinguish the true or subconscious
sleep walker from the person who is faking it.
Treating sleep walking involves psychotherapy, psychiatric drugs, sleep
laboratory studies, hypnosis or other approaches. Such treatments
often work-- they can help protect others from the sleep walker and sleep
walkers--from themselves. For a copy of this script access our web
site, speakingofhealth.com. Speaking of Health, I'm Dr. Steven Andrew
Davis, for CBS News.
E-Mail
drdavis@davishealth.com
Dr. Steve Davis
7810 Louis Pasteur #200
San Antonio, Texas 78229
210/614-3355
