Sleepwalking - Causes

Causes

Disruption of the normal regulation of the different phases of sleep maybe responsible for Sleepwalking; however its actual cause is unknown.

Wakefulness, Rapid Eye Movement and Non Rapid Eye Movement sleep states overlap as transition occurs from one state to another. A smooth flow of these states is essential for good sleep. Dissociation of this smooth transition may cause sleepwalking. This can be aggravated by the following factors-

• Fever
• Sleep Deprivation and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Other disorders that disrupt slow-wave sleep
• Internal stimuli, such as a full urinary bladder
• External stimuli, such as noises
• Personality disorders
• Relationship difficulties
• Drugs, like thioridazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, desipramine, chloral hydrate, and lithium