Psychology says millions of adults sleepwalk, exposing hidden ties between nocturnal wanderings, mental health, and sleep disruption

Imagine waking up to find yourself standing in the middle of your living room, completely unaware of how you got there or what you were doing just moments before. Have you ever wondered why some adults suddenly get out of bed and wander around in their sleep? Could these mysterious night episodes be pointing to deeper health issues?

Sleepwalking, clinically known as somnambulism, happens when people get up and walk around while still asleep. While it is more common in children, who usually outgrow it by their teen years, a major study comprising thousands of adults published in Neurology and reported by Psychiatric News in July 2012 revealed that nearly 4 percent of American adults, roughly 8.5 million people, walked in their sleep in 2011 (the study's survey year).

Furthermore, three in 10 adults surveyed reported sleepwalking at least once in their lives, with most stating they had walked in their sleep for more than five years, often since childhood.

Understanding the Brain in Motion

Sleepwalking disrupts the body's normal transition between rest and full consciousness. "Contrary to popular belief, sleep and wakefulness are not mutually exclusive states," said Mark Mahowald, M.D., a coauthor of the report and professor of neurology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, in an interview with Psychiatric News. "In sleepwalking episodes, part of the brain is awake and part is asleep simultaneously. The part that is awake is capable of conscious awareness. The part that is asleep is not."

Mental Health and Family Ties

Beyond simple physical movement, the study highlighted that adult sleepwalking frequently intersects with underlying psychiatric and physiological conditions. "Sleepwalking is far more prevalent in adults than previously thought," reported Maurice Ohayon, M.D., D.Sc., Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Stanford University School of Medicine.

The research showed that sleepwalking likely has familial roots, with nearly one-third of sleepwalkers reporting at least one other sleepwalker in the family, while individuals with major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or alcohol abuse/dependence were more likely to sleepwalk one or more times a year.

Sleepwalking in adults is far more prevalent than previously assumed, frequently acting as a marker for underlying sleep disorders, psychiatric conditions, family genetics, or severe sleep deprivation. While occasional episodes are generally harmless and do not require treatment, identifying root causes like sleep apnea and managing sleep continuity can effectively stop these nighttime wanderings.