Night terror

"Pavor Nocturnus" redirects here, for the Sanctuary episode, see Pavor Nocturnus (Sanctuary)

A night terror, also known as a sleep terror or pavor nocturnus, is a parasomnia disorder characterized by extreme terror and a temporary inability to regain full consciousness. The subject wakes abruptly from slow-wave sleep, with waking usually accompanied by gasping, moaning, or screaming while waking. It is often impossible to awaken the person fully because they are so concentrated on waking, and after the episode the subject normally settles back to sleep without waking. A night terror can rarely be recalled by the subject. They typically occur during non-rapid eye movement sleep.

Signs and symptoms

Children

Children from age two to eight are most prone to night terrors, and they affect about fifteen percent of all children,^[1] although people of any age may experience them. Episodes may recur for a couple of weeks then suddenly disappear. The symptoms also tend to be different, like the child being able to recall the experience, and while nearly arisen, hallucinate. Children who have night terrors are usually described as 'bolting upright' with their eyes wide open, with a look of fear and panic, and will often scream. They will usually sweat, breath fast and have a rapid heart rate (autonomic signs). And although it will seem like they are awake, during a night terror, children will appear confused, will not be consolable and won't recognize you. Strong evidence has shown that a predisposition to night terrors and other parasomniac disorders can be passed genetically. Though there are a multitude of triggers, emotional stress during the previous day and a high fever are thought to precipitate most episodes. Ensuring the right amount of sleep is an important factor. Night terrors may also be caused by stress.

Special consideration must be used when the subject suffers from narcolepsy, as there may be a link.

Adults

Though the symptoms of night terrors in adolescents and adults are similar, the etiology, prognosis and treatment are qualitatively different. These night terrors can occur each night if the sufferer does not eat a proper diet, get the appropriate amount of sleep, is enduring stressful events in their life or if they remain untreated. Adult night terrors are much less common, often trauma-based rather than genetic, chronic, and often respond to treatment in the form of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. There is some evidence of a link between adult night terrors and hypoglycemia.^[2]

In addition to night terrors, some adult night terror sufferers have many of the characteristics of depressed individuals including inhibition of aggression,^[3] self-directed anger,^[3] passivity,^[4] anxiety, impaired memory,^[5] and the ability to ignore pain.^[6]

Treatment

Since night terrors are most commonly triggered by being overtired, sometimes no treatment is necessary except for a bedtime schedule that ensures proper sleep. If the night terrors are more frequent, however, it has been suggested that the sufferer should be awakened from sleep just before the time when the terrors occur most to interrupt the sleep cycle.^[1]

See also

• Sleep paralysis

Bibliography

• Carranza, Christopher. Banishing Night Terrors and Nightmares Kensington Books, 2004.

References

External links

• Night Terror Resource Center
• eMedicine Health: Night Terrors
• National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus: Night Terrors
• National Library of Medicine - Medical Subject Headings: Night Terrors