Homicidal Somnambulism: A Case Report | Zendy

Roger Broughton | Zendy; Ronald F. Billings | Zendy; Rosalind Cartwright | Zendy; Diane L. Doucette | Zendy; John Edmeads | Zendy; Marlys Edwardh | Zendy; Frank R. Ervin | Zendy; B. Orchard | Zendy; Renee Y. Hill | Zendy; Gavin Turrell | Zendy

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Homicidal Somnambulism: A Case Report

Author(s) -

Roger Broughton,

Ronald F. Billings,

Rosalind Cartwright,

Diane L. Doucette,

John Edmeads,

Marlys Edwardh,

Frank R. Ervin,

B. Orchard,

Renee Y. Hill,

Gavin Turrell

Publication year - 1994

Publication title -

sleep

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.222

H-Index - 207

eISSN - 1550-9109

pISSN - 0161-8105

DOI - 10.1093/sleep/17.3.253

Subject(s) - sleepwalking , acquittal , psychology , parasomnia , psychiatry , homicide , poison control , sleep disorder , injury prevention , medicine , insomnia , medical emergency , political science , law

A case of a homicide and an attempted homicide during presumed sleepwalking is reported in which somnambulism was the legal defense and led to an acquittal. Other possible explanations including complex partial seizures, dissociative state, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and volitional waking behavior are discussed. The evidence supporting the probability that this act occurred during an episode of somnambulism and sleep-related confusional arousal is reviewed and weighed. This evidence includes personal and family history of somnambulism and related disorders; neurological, psychiatric and psychological assessments; presence of possible precipitating factors; and polysomnographic data.

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