Night Terrors Quiz

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Reviewed By:

Yu Shirai, MD

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

What is night terrors?

Night terrors are episodes of fear that involve screaming, flailing, or thrashing while the person is asleep and has no memory of it upon waking. They are common in children, who usually outgrow them with age. It is generally not a concern unless sleep is significantly disrupted and insufficient.

Symptoms of night terrors

  • 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

  • When sleeping, I sometimes scream loudly and wake up

  • Uncontrollable movements that make me subconsciously walk or wander around

  • Have slept so deeply that others were unable to awaken me

  • Punch or strike out with fists while asleep

Questions your doctor may ask to check for night terrors

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?

  • When sleeping, do you sometimes scream loudly and wake up?

  • Do your uncontrollable movements make you subconsciously walk or wander around?

Treatment for night terrors

Medical treatment is typically not required. Treatment may be helpful for particularly disruptive night terrors or those that may compromise safety. Options include treating underlying causes (sleep apnea, stress, or 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

User testimonials

Reviewed By:

Yu Shirai, MD

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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