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On Serious Violence during Sleep-Walking

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Ian Oswald  and
John Evans
Ian Oswald*
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH105HF
John Evans
Affiliation:
Young People's Unit, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH10 5HF
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

It is not sufficiently realised that sleep-walking is not an hysterical condition, nor in any way related to epilepsy, nor that it can be accompanied by violent injury to the self or others. Three case reports here include that of a 14-year-old boy who rose from his bed at 2 a.m. and severely stabbed his five-year-old girl cousin. The sleeping mind is not in touch with reality and amnesia for events during sleep is usual.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 147 , Issue 6 , December 1985 , pp. 688 - 691
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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