Unusual Behavior or Actions When Sleeping

About the Symptom

A sleep behavior disorder is when a person physically acts out dreams, with movements and sounds. This problem is associated with the period of sleep when dreams occur, called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. There are many possible causes of sleep behavior disorder, including certain medications and neurologic diseases

Possible Causes

Generally, Unusual behavior or actions when sleeping can be related to:

• Restless Leg Syndrome

  Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs. RLS typically occurs while sitting or lying down. The exact cause is unknown but may be related to a chemical (dopamine) imbalance in the brain. RLS can begin at any age and generally is more common in older people. It can disrupt sleep, interfering with daily activities. Risk factors include low iron, abnormal kidney function, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord problems.

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Unusual behavior or actions when sleeping may be related to these serious diseases:

• Sleep-Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder

  Sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder (RMD) involves rhythmic, repeated body movements while drowsy or asleep, which most commonly occurs in babies and children but can persist into adulthood. In addition to abnormal movements, the disorder can also manfest with loud humming or other sounds. The exact cause of RMD is unknown. Rare causes include head injury, stress, and brain infection.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you have unusual sleep behaviors?
• Do you talk loudly in your sleep?
• Do you move your knees while sleeping?
• Do your abnormal sleep behaviors occur with nightmares?
• Do you punch or strike while asleep?

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