Abstract Somnambulism

Somnambulism, commonly cognise as somnambulation, is a parasomnia that has six diagnostic criteria that moldiness be met according to the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders IV. It is marked by irrelevant physical behaviors that disrupt sleep. Upon a disturbning the respective(prenominal) is conf utilise and has no memory of the episode. noctambulation peaks in puerility and usually resolves itself in adolescence. Adults that experience noctambulation argon much resemblingly to receive had episodes as children. The put out is most prevalent in females during childhood and men in adulthood.Individuals with mood disorders much(prenominal) as anxiety or low gear are more likely to enclose symptoms of noctambulism. Genetic predispositions are very measurable when determining whether an individualist impart bring about the disorder. However, it is essential to remember that environmental influences like stressful events are usually postulate to galva nize the genetic predisposition. The use of medications earth-closet both trigger and correct somnambulation. on with medications, hypnosis, and anticipatory awakening have to a fault been shown to relieve the symptoms of sleepwalking. Somnambulism can be a dangerous disorder.While asleep individuals have been known to put their own lives, as well as the lives of others at risk. there have even been reports of a good deal who suffer from somnambulism committing murder dapple asleep. Courts have acknowledged the excuse of somnambulism to declare an individual innocent of their crime. However, this proposes some(prenominal) dangers. How are we supposed to control these individuals from committing other crime? Also, there have non been enough studies on successful treatment, so how will we know that these individuals will be corrected with treatment?It seems as though the consequences for crimes committed while sleepwalking are inadequate. Somnambulism and the Dangers Sleep di sorders are disjunct into two categories, parasomnias or dyssomnias. Dyssomnias are those that call down extreme sleepiness or trouble in initiating or maintaining sleep. Parasomnias are those contradictory physical behaviors that happen during sleep. Somnambulism, or more commonly sleepwalking, is a parasomnia. What do you moving-picture show when you think of a person sleepwalking? Waking up in the pith of the iniquity and aimlessly without consequence aimlessly walking around their room?I bet you didnt think of a person committing murder. The latter is the least known aspect of somnambulism. This paper will character the dangers, and consequences of somnambulism and whether these consequences are appropriate. According to the authors of the DSM IV, to be diagnosed with somnambulism the patient must(prenominal) spiel six specific criterions. The individual must have multiple episodes of rising from arse during sleep. Since sleep walking episodes occur during slow-wave s leep, the somnambulism must take place during the starting time third of the night (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).During the hazard the individual will have bring down alertness and responsiveness (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). They will also don a untenanted stare and be unresponsive to the efforts of others to wake them up (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Upon awakening the individual will not remember the events from the night in the lead and will suffer from wonder and disorientation (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). However, after the confusion and disorientation the individual will reanimate full cognitive processes (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).Most importantly, the sleepwalking must cause some come apart of distress and or impairment in different aspects of their life (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). sleepwalk cannot be diagnosed as the formal diagnosis if it is due to substance use or medical conditions (A merican Psychiatric Association, 2000). The individual must meet all of the criteria above to be properly diagnosed as an individual with somnambulism. ree because they were sleepwalking. more(prenominal) precautions need to be taken before somnambulism can be used as an excuse for murder.