Pavor nocturnus
Pavor Nocturnus, also known as Night Terrors, is a sleep disorder characterized by feelings of terror or dread, and typically occurs during the first hours of stage 3-4 non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Night terrors tend to happen during periods of arousal from delta sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
Night terrors are often associated with screaming, flailing, and panic; in extreme cases, they can result in bodily harm to oneself or others. People experiencing a night terror may not respond coherently to attempts to comfort or communicate with them, and typically do not remember the incident.
Causes[edit | edit source]
Night terrors can often be triggered by stress, depression, sleep deprivation, or certain medications. They are also common in children, with a family history of night terrors or sleepwalking behavior.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnosis of night terrors is usually made based on the person's history. The disorder can be differentiated from nightmares as the person is not fully awake and does not recall the event.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for night terrors can involve addressing underlying conditions, improving sleep hygiene, and in some cases, the use of medication. In many cases, children will outgrow night terrors.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Pavor nocturnus Resources | |
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References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
Pediatric glossary of terms | Glossary of medical terms | Dictionary of pediatrics
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