Episodic nocturnal wanderings responsive to anticonvulsant drug therapy

摘要: Six patients between the ages of 17 and 32 years presented with unusual sleep-walking episodes characterized by screaming or unintelligible vocalizations; complex, often violent automatisms; ambulation. Two more attacks could occur in a single night were most common early morning hours. Family personal histories did not show epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, (with 1 exception) previous somnambulism. Electrographic investigation revealed that all had normal waking-sleep cycles but 4 them epileptiform abnormalities on their electroencephalograms. All treated either phenytoin carbamazepine, cessation abnormal nocturnal behavior during follow-up periods ranging from 9 to 48 months. This syndrome appears be distinct typical non–rapid eye movement dyssomnias suggests an atypical form epilepsy.