Night terror

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Pavor nocturnus; Sleep terror disorder

• 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.

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

Review Date: 07/28/2005
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.