Night Terror

A night terror, also known as a sleep terror or pavor nocturnus, is a parasomnia disorder, causing feelings of terror or dread, and typically occurring in the first few hours of sleep during stage 3 or 4 non-rapid eye movement NREM sleep. However, they can also occur during daytime naps.

Night terrors should not be confused with nightmares, which are bad dreams that cause feelings of horror or fear. While nightmares are relatively common during childhood, night terrors occur less frequently according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. An estimated 1%-6% of children and fewer than 1% of adults will experience a night terror episode within their lifetime. Sleep terrors begin between ages 3 and 12 years and then usually dissipate during adolescence. In adults they most commonly occur between the ages of 20 to 30. Though the frequency and severity varies between individuals, the episodes can occur in intervals of days or weeks, but can also occur over consecutive nights or multiple times in one night.