By Shahista Namale
Nantongo Hajara, a resident of Bweyogerere, thoroughly frightened her dormmates when she suddenly “woke” up screaming and running at a remarkably fast speed towards a window and jumped through it.
They thought she had certainly broken a limb because the window was relatively high, but when they fetched her from her landing spot, she was alright, save for a few bruises.
Nantongo could not say why she had jumped out of the window, and the scared headmistress sent her home for further investigation.
Her dorm mates never learnt why she had jumped out of that window, but Dr. Irimaaso Hillary, a psychiatrist and neurophysiologist, says Nantongo was sleepwalking.
Sleepwalking, formally known as somnambulism, is a behaviour disorder that originates during deep sleep and results in walking or performing other complex behaviours while still mostly asleep. It is more common in children than adults and is more likely to occur if a person has a family history of the condition, is sleep deprived, or is prone to repeated nighttime awakenings.
According to Dr. Irimaaso, accidents during these episodes can cause injuries, and sleepwalking is associated with worse sleep and daytime drowsiness.
“Active treatment may not be necessary for many people, but when episodes are more frequent or intense, several treatment options may be beneficial,” he added.
Children usually outgrow sleepwalking by the teen years.
Sleepwalking that happens once in a while often isn’t a serious problem and doesn’t need treatment. But sleepwalking that happens a lot may suggest an underlying sleep disorder.
Dr. Irimaaso Hillary explains that as a psychiatrist, sleepwalking is a type of disorder known as parasomnia.
He says this happens during the deep stages of non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, usually within the first few hours after falling asleep.
“Several factors are believed to contribute to sleepwalking like genetics and family history, brain injury, fever in children, some medications with a sedative, stress because various types of stress can affect sleep,” he explains, noting that stress can be physical, such as pain, or emotional, among others.
The scientific community has made significant strides in understanding sleepwalking, although some aspects remain mysterious.
Research suggests that the sleepwalker’s brain exhibits a unique pattern of activity, with areas responsible for movement and complex behaviours being active, while those governing consciousness and memory remain dormant. This explains why sleepwalkers often have no recollection of their actions.
Dr. Irimaaso explains that dealing with sleepwalking involves a combination of preventive measures and strategies to ensure safety, like maintaining a regular sleep schedule to ensure adequate rest. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe medications to regulate sleep patterns.
He advises the public to make it a habit to get enough sleep.
“Sleep is also important to consolidate memory and lack of sleep has increasingly been associated with disorders such as depression, dementia and obesity,” he added.
One long-term study found that 29 percent of children from around two to thirteen years old experienced sleepwalking with a peak in incidence between ages 10 and 13. In adults, the prevalence is estimated to be up to 4 percent.
