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Night terror

Alternative Names:
Pavor nocturnus; Sleep terror disorder

Symptoms:
  • sudden awakening from sleep
  • persistent fear or terror that occurs at night
  • screaming
  • sweating
  • confusion
  • rapid heart rate
  • unable to explain what happened
  • no recall of "bad dreams" or nightmares
    •  may have a vague sense of frightening images
  • unable to fully arouse
  • difficult to comfort
  • no memory of the event on awakening the next day

Note: Episodes are most common in the first third of the night. They may last 10 to 20 minutes, then normal sleep returns.



Signs and tests:

In many cases, no further examination or testing is necessary. If night terror is severe or prolonged, psychologic evaluation may be appropriate.




Review Date: 7/28/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, M.D., Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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