Unprompted user switching MBP C2D 2.33 10.5.8

My MBP C2D 2.33 running 10.5.8 has recently developed the following problem: The desktop suddenly "swivels" to the Login Window without having been prompted to do so. It does not log me out, it just switches to the Login Window. When I log back in I can see all of the windows still open with the work in progress, but the computer switches back to the Login Window within a second or two.
Restarting means losing the unsaved work in progress, but allows me to log back in and continue working. The problem has occurred 3 times over the past 3 days, twice while doing nothing more complicated than composing a message in Mail.
This problem is a bit annoying while I'm working at home, but my work involves a lot of presentations for groups from 12-200 people and I can't afford to have this happen under those circumstances. I've used Disc Utility to repair the permissions database but am looking for another more specific diagnosis and fix if possible. I can do an archive and install of Leopard if necessary but am not looking forward to it.

Just happened again, this time with Mail not even open. Acting suspiciously like a parental controls issue, even though this is happening on the Admin account rather than one of the kids' accounts. I'll try turning parental controls off altogether to see if it helps.

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