Night Terrors Quiz
Reviewed By:
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
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Learn more about Night terrors
Content updated on Sep 20, 2022
These are fearful episodes involving screaming, flailing and/or thrashing that occur when the person is asleep and don't have memory of upon awakening. They are common in children, who tend to outgrow it with age. This is generally not worrisome unless sleep is significantly disrupted (and hence insufficient).
Unable to recall abnormal behaviors or actions that I did while asleep
Uncontrollable movements that usually happen at night
Eyes open during seizure
Child cries at night
Have slept so deeply that others were unable to awaken me
Punch or strike out with fists while asleep
When sleeping, I sometimes scream loudly and wake up
Uncontrollable movements that make me subconsciously walk or wander around
Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose night terrors
Are you unable to recall abnormal behaviors or actions that you did while asleep?
Do your uncontrollable movements usually happen at night?
Does your child cry at night for no particular reason?
Have you ever slept so deeply that others were unable to awaken you?
Do you punch or strike out with your fists while asleep?
Medical treatment is generally not needed. Treatment may be helpful for particularly disruptive night terrors or night terrors that may compromise safety. Treatment options include treating underlying causes (sleep apnea, or stress and anxiety), or waking the person in anticipation of an episode before a night terror begins.
Diseases related to Night terrors
References
Van Horn NL, Street M. Night Terrors. 2021 Jul 10. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan–. PMID: 29630274.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493222/
Snyder DM, Goodlin-Jones BL, Pionk MJ, Stein MT. Inconsolable night-time awakening: beyond night terrors. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2008 Aug;29(4):311-4. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181829f4c. PMID: 18698194.
https://journals.lww.com/jrnldbp/Abstract/2008/08000/Inconsolable_Night_Time_Awakening__Beyond_Night.10.aspx
Boyden SD, Pott M, Starks PT. An evolutionary perspective on night terrors. Evol Med Public Health. 2018 Apr 14;2018(1):100-105. doi: 10.1093/emph/eoy010. PMID: 29765596; PMCID: PMC5941156.
https://academic.oup.com/emph/article/2018/1/100/4971513
Cimolai N. Night terrors associated with celiac disease. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Jun;30(6):687-688. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001098. PMID: 29697525.
https://journals.lww.com/eurojgh/Citation/2018/06000/Night_terrors_associated_with_celiac_disease.16.aspx
Reviewed By:
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan