Somnambulistic eating: A report of three cases

Abstract

Somnambulism is a disorder of arousal that often includes complex, wake‐like behavior with an unclear connection to conscious wishes. During episodes of somnambulism, appetitive behaviors are unusual and, when they do, occur, raise questions as to the true state of consciousness of the patient. This is the first report of somnambulistic sleepeating in which polysomnographic studies were performed to document the sleep‐related nature of the nocturnal eating. During all‐night sleep studies, three patients complaining of eating during sleep had episodic behavior in non‐REM sleep, consistent with a somnambulistic etiology. In all three patients, a conscious preoccupation with food was present and two patients showed a high percentage of slow‐wave sleep. These findings suggest a concurrence of organogenic and psychogenic factors, that has been postulated previously to underlie somnambulism in adults.

Electroencephalography in eating disorders

“……”

Electroencephalography in eating disorders

“……”

Two Cases of Sleep-Related Eating Disorder Responding Promptly to Low-Dose Sertraline Therapy

“…Also, there was no clinically significant sleep-disordered breathing in either case, despite the greatly elevated BMI in case 1. Each case had recognized risk factors for SRED, [1][2][3][4][5][6] including smoking cessation and work-related stress in case 1, and a history of SW and work-related circadian disruptions in case 2. In a series of 38 consecutive cases of SRED, 4 cessation of cigarette smoking triggered SRED onset in 2 cases, and major stress triggered SRED onset in 6 cases.…”

Sleepwalking in Psychiatric Patients: Comparison of Childhood and Adult Onset

“…Although the prevalence of sleep-related injuries and family history was comparable between the two groups, the adult-onset sleepwalkers had more frequent attacks, and had more diverse and complex clinical features, especially the high comorbidity of SRE features, which was rarely seen in childhood sleepwalking. The exact nosological status and aetiological factors of SRE syndrome are not certain, but SRE is commonly regarded as a variant of sleepwalking [26,27]. It is characterized by involuntary eating, drinking or cooking behaviour under impaired level of consciousness.…”

“…The exact nosological status and aetiological factors of SRE syndrome are not certain, but SRE is commonly regarded as a variant of sleepwalking [26, 27]. It is characterized by involuntary eating, drinking or cooking behaviour under impaired level of consciousness.…”

Electroencephalography in eating disorders

“……”

Two Cases of Sleep-Related Eating Disorder Responding Promptly to Low-Dose Sertraline Therapy

“…Also, there was no clinically significant sleep-disordered breathing in either case, despite the greatly elevated BMI in case 1. Each case had recognized risk factors for SRED, [1][2][3][4][5][6] including smoking cessation and work-related stress in case 1, and a history of SW and work-related circadian disruptions in case 2. In a series of 38 consecutive cases of SRED, 4 cessation of cigarette smoking triggered SRED onset in 2 cases, and major stress triggered SRED onset in 6 cases.…”

Sleepwalking in Psychiatric Patients: Comparison of Childhood and Adult Onset

“…Although the prevalence of sleep-related injuries and family history was comparable between the two groups, the adult-onset sleepwalkers had more frequent attacks, and had more diverse and complex clinical features, especially the high comorbidity of SRE features, which was rarely seen in childhood sleepwalking. The exact nosological status and aetiological factors of SRE syndrome are not certain, but SRE is commonly regarded as a variant of sleepwalking [26,27]. It is characterized by involuntary eating, drinking or cooking behaviour under impaired level of consciousness.…”

“…The exact nosological status and aetiological factors of SRE syndrome are not certain, but SRE is commonly regarded as a variant of sleepwalking [26, 27]. It is characterized by involuntary eating, drinking or cooking behaviour under impaired level of consciousness.…”

Electroencephalography in eating disorders

“……”

Two Cases of Sleep-Related Eating Disorder Responding Promptly to Low-Dose Sertraline Therapy

“…Also, there was no clinically significant sleep-disordered breathing in either case, despite the greatly elevated BMI in case 1. Each case had recognized risk factors for SRED, [1][2][3][4][5][6] including smoking cessation and work-related stress in case 1, and a history of SW and work-related circadian disruptions in case 2. In a series of 38 consecutive cases of SRED, 4 cessation of cigarette smoking triggered SRED onset in 2 cases, and major stress triggered SRED onset in 6 cases.…”

Sleepwalking in Psychiatric Patients: Comparison of Childhood and Adult Onset

“…Although the prevalence of sleep-related injuries and family history was comparable between the two groups, the adult-onset sleepwalkers had more frequent attacks, and had more diverse and complex clinical features, especially the high comorbidity of SRE features, which was rarely seen in childhood sleepwalking. The exact nosological status and aetiological factors of SRE syndrome are not certain, but SRE is commonly regarded as a variant of sleepwalking [26,27]. It is characterized by involuntary eating, drinking or cooking behaviour under impaired level of consciousness.…”

“…The exact nosological status and aetiological factors of SRE syndrome are not certain, but SRE is commonly regarded as a variant of sleepwalking [26, 27]. It is characterized by involuntary eating, drinking or cooking behaviour under impaired level of consciousness.…”