Editing Sleepwalking (section)

=== Assessment ===
An assessment of sleepwalking via [[polysomnography]] poses the problem that sleepwalking is less likely to occur in the sleep laboratory, and if an episode occurs, it is usually less complex than what the patient experiences at home.<ref>Blatt, I., Peled, R., Gadoth, N., & Lavie, P. (1991). The value of sleep recording in evaluating somnambulism in young adults. Electroencephalography & Clinical Neurophysiology, 78, 407–412.</ref><ref>Joncas, S., Zadra, A., Paquet, J., & Montplaisir, J. (2002). The value of sleep deprivation as a diagnostic tool in adult sleepwalkers. Neurology, 58, 936–940.</ref><ref>Kales, A., Soldatos, C. R., Caldwell, A. B., Kales, J. D., Humphrey, F. J., 2nd, Charney, D. S., & Schweitzer, P. K. (1980). Somnambulism. Clinical characteristics and personality patterns. Archives of General Psychiatry, 37, 1406–1410.</ref> Therefore, the diagnosis can often be made by assessment of sleep history, time-course and content of the sleep related behaviors.<ref>Hublin, C., Kaprio, J., Partinen, M., Heikkila, K., & Koskenvuo, M. (1997). Prevalence and genetics of sleepwalking: A population-based twin study. Neurology, 48, 177–181.</ref> Sometimes, home videos can provide additional information and should be considered in the diagnostic process.<ref>Kavey, N. B., Whyte, J., Resor, S. R., Jr., & Gidro-Frank, S. (1990). Somnambulism in adults. Neurology, 40, 749–752.</ref>

Some features that should always be assessed include:<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195376203.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780195376203-e-027|title=Parasomnias II|last1=Zadra|first1=Antonio|last2=Pilon|first2=Mathieu|date=2012-03-01|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195376203.013.0028}}</ref>
* Age of onset
* When the episode occurs during the sleep period
* How often these episodes occur (frequency) and how long they last (duration)
* Description of the episode, including behavior, emotions, and thoughts during and after the event
* How responsive the patient is to external stimuli during the episode
* How conscious or aware the patient is, when awakened from an episode
* If the episode is remembered afterwards
* The triggers or precipitating factors
* Sleep–wake pattern and sleep environment
* Daytime sleepiness
* Other sleep disorders that might be present
* Family history for NREM parasomnias and other sleep disorders
* Medical, psychiatric, and neurological history
* Medication and substance use history
The assessment should rule out differential diagnoses.