Abstract
One major advantage of Web-based research lies in its ability to reach and study people who have rare conditions
of interest. Another advantage is that, due to the anonymity of the survey situation, the Internet is particularly
suited for surveys on sensitive topics. Sexsomnia is a newly identified medical condition whose sufferers
engage in sexual behavior during their sleep. Problematic cases are highly distressing and have forensic implications.
The consensus among opinion leaders in sleep medicine is that sexsomnia may be quite common but
that it often goes unreported because of shame and embarrassment. Thus, little is known about this condition’s
demographics and clinical features. This article reports findings from a sample analysis of 20 years of research
on sexsomnia and discusses the results, strengths, and weaknesses of a recent Web-based survey conducted on
the difficult-to-reach clinical population that suffers from sexsomnia.
Mangano, M