Night terror

Alternative names:

pavor nocturnus; sleep terror disorder

Definition:

A sleep disorder involving abrupt awakening from sleep with behavior consistent with terror.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The normal sleep cycle involves distinct stages from light drowsiness to deep sleep. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is a different type of sleep, where the eyes move rapidly and vivid dreaming is most common. During a night, there will be several cycles of non-REM and REM sleep. Night terror (sleep terror) occurs during Stage 3 and Stage 4 sleep (deep sleep). The cause is unknown but night terrors are commonly associated with periods of emotional tension, stress, or conflict.

Night terror is similar to nightmares except that nightmares usually occur during REM sleep and include unpleasant or frightening dreams. Nightmares are most common in the early morning. They are normal on occasion, especially after frightening movies/TV shows or emotional situations. If recurrent, nightmares and night terror may be associated with psychological disturbances or severe stress, especially in adults.

Night terror occurs most often in preadolescent boys, although it can occur in girls and in adults. It is fairly common in children 3 to 5 years old, and incidence usually reduces greatly after that. It may run in families. Night terror can occur in adults, especially with emotional tension and/or the use of alcohol.