title: Sleep-related violence.
abstract: We hypothesized that sleep-related violent behavior associated with parasomnias occurs as the result of a diathesis and is precipitated by stressors and mediated by disturbed nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep physiology. Sixty-four consecutive adult patients (mean age 30 years) who were investigated for sleepwalking or sleep terrors were categorized according to clinical history into three groups: serious violence during sleep to other people or to property or self (n = 26); harmful, but not destructive behavior (n = 12); and nonviolent behavior (n = 26). Log linear analysis showed that a diathesis (childhood parasomnia and/or family history of parasomnia) and a stressor (psychologic distress, substance abuse and sleep schedule disorder) predicted the presence of sleepwalking or night terror. Serious violent acts were more likely to occur with males (p < 0.004) who showed sleep schedule disorder (p < 0.03). Both harmful and serious violent sleep behavior occurred with drug abuse (p < 0.009). In comparison to all other groups, those who were violent to other people were males who experienced more stressors (p < 0.02), drank excessive caffeinated beverages, abused drugs (p < 0.03) and showed less stage 4 sleep (p < 0.02) and less alpha (7.5-11 Hz) electroencephalogram NREM sleep (p < 0.02) on polysomnography. Being male and having < 2% stage 4 sleep provided 89% sensitivity, 80% specificity and 81% diagnostic accuracy for individuals who were violent to others. The forensic implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology, Western Division, Toronto Hospital, Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moldofsky
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lue
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: MacLean
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012895:Sleep, REM; D013009:Somnambulism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014754:Violence