Parasomnias are undesirable events or behaviors occuring  during sleep. Sleepwalking, also called somnambulism, is a behavior disorder that originates during deep sleep, and  results in walking or performing other complex behaviors while asleep according to the National Sleep Foundation. Sleepwalking usually occurs within a few hours of falling asleep, during stages 3 and 4, and lasts 5-30 minutes an episode.  It is much more prevalent in children during pre-puberty years,  can abate in early teens,  or continue throughout adulthood. It can be genetic, but is not considered "harmful" for children...except for dangers occuring while sleepwalking. Sleepwalking is not a sign of emotional or psychological problems. Night terrors, sleep apnea and enuresis can accompany this disorder. It is also thought that some drugs can cause episodes of sleepwalking as a side effect.
                                   

It is the adult more likely to be harmed. Some, engage in potentially harmful sexual encounters, while others have been reported driving vechiles while in their dazed state.  Complications of sleepwalking are now being being examined in relationship to mens rea, or culpable mental state necessary to a finding of criminal responsibility.Sleepwalking violence is a psychological challenge as well as a legal dilemma that has been noted in forensic literature, and argued in courtrooms.

Safely to bed? Maybe not, if you are a sleepwalker.

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