title: Somnambulism induced by quetiapine: two case reports and a review of the literature.
abstract: Somnambulism, a previously unreported side effect of quetiapine, is described in two cases. Both cases involved individuals who had no prior or family history of somnambulism and had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The possible significance of this will also be discussed. Somnambulism is a common parasomnia that reflects an impairment in the normal mechanisms of arousal from sleep in which motor behaviors are activated without full consciousness. Motor behaviors are initiated during deep non-rapid eye movement or slow-wave sleep (stages 3-4), and may be limited to relatively simple manifestations, such as sitting up, fumbling with objects or bedclothes, or mumbling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA. zebahafeez@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zeba Hasan
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Hafeez
authors.forename: Constance M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kalinowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008274:Magnesium; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology; D013009:Somnambulism / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D008274:Magnesium