Sleep Talking: A Symptom Linked to Mental Health Disorders and Neurodegenerative Diseases

According to recent studies, sleep talking, or somniloquy, can be linked to various mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Additionally, medications used to treat depression and other mental health disorders, high blood pressure, seizures, asthma, and even other sleep disorders can contribute to sleep talking. For individuals who have never experienced sleep talking and suddenly develop the condition after the age of 50, particularly becoming louder and more frequent, it may indicate a potential neurodegenerative disorder like Parkinson’s, and a neurological evaluation from a healthcare professional is recommended. Obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder characterized by repeated episodes of stopped breathing, can also trigger sleep talking, as bed partners may observe complete silence before a sudden gasp for breath. To minimize disruption to a sleeping partner’s sleep, preventative measures such as using white noise generators, earplugs, or loud fans, going to bed prior to the individual who sleep talks, and limiting alcohol intake are suggested. Sleep talking falls under the category of parasomnias, which frequently run in families, and persons with a family history of parasomnias are more prone to developing them themselves, especially if multiple first-degree relatives exhibit similar symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy, good sleep hygiene practices, and addressing underlying stressors and negative thought patterns related to sleep can assist in treating severe cases of sleep talking.