Citation

Andersen ML, Poyares D, Alves RS, Skomro R, Tufik S. Brain Res. Rev. 2007; 56(2): 271-282.

Affiliation

Department of Psychobiology - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. mandersen@psicobio.epm.br

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.brainresrev.2007.06.005

PMID

17706786

Abstract

This review attempts to assemble the characteristics of a distinct variant of sleepwalking called sexsomnia/sleepsex from the seemingly scarce literature into a coherent theoretical framework. Common features of sexsomnia include sexual arousal with autonomic activation (e.g. nocturnal erection, vaginal lubrication, nocturnal emission, dream orgasms). Somnambulistic sexual behavior and its clinical implications, the role of precipitating factors, diagnostic, treatment, and medico-legal issues are also reviewed. The characteristics of several individuals described in literature including their family/personal history of parasomnia as well as the abnormal behaviors occurring during sleep are reported.

Language: en