MANAGEMENT OF SLEEPWALKING

My approach to managing sleepwalking is usually one of benign neglect. Children almost always outgrow the problem between the ages of seven and fourteen, with no permanent psychological damage, while virtually any kind of treatment may be worse than the condition itself. Drugs are usually of little value and may produce unwanted side effects. Psychological counseling or behavior modification is a two-edged sword; such an approach may work in some children, while in others it may pro-
Time and patience, however, are the best remedies. Some form of family counseling may also help reassure the parents that the child is not suffering from any serious disorder.
In adult sleepwalkers there may be an element of emotional disturbance which does need to be addressed. If so, careful psychiatric evaluation is needed to determine which approach has the greatest chance of success. Benzodiazepine drugs such as diazepam and flurazepam may help, primarily due to the fact that they suppress Stages 3 and 4 sleep. Evidence of any benefit from a drug called imipramine, used in the treatment of endogenous depression and childhood bed-wetting, is still inconclusive. It’s also possible that hypnotism, conducted by a qualified professional, may produce some benefits, although many investigators feel it will not work.
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MANAGEMENT OF SLEEPWALKINGMy approach to managing sleepwalking is usually one of benign neglect. Children almost always outgrow the problem between the ages of seven and fourteen, with no permanent psychological damage, while virtually any kind of treatment may be worse than the condition itself. Drugs are usually of little value and may produce unwanted side effects. Psychological counseling or behavior modification is a two-edged sword; such an approach may work in some children, while in others it may pro-Time and patience, however, are the best remedies. Some form of family counseling may also help reassure the parents that the child is not suffering from any serious disorder.In adult sleepwalkers there may be an element of emotional disturbance which does need to be addressed. If so, careful psychiatric evaluation is needed to determine which approach has the greatest chance of success. Benzodiazepine drugs such as diazepam and flurazepam may help, primarily due to the fact that they suppress Stages 3 and 4 sleep. Evidence of any benefit from a drug called imipramine, used in the treatment of endogenous depression and childhood bed-wetting, is still inconclusive. It’s also possible that hypnotism, conducted by a qualified professional, may produce some benefits, although many investigators feel it will not work.*179\226\8*

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