Sleep terrors (pavor nocturnus)
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Sleep terrors (pavor nocturnus). Sitting or standing up, Bolting or running away, Agitation, Violence and injury. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Motor features
- Sitting or standing up
- Bolting or running away
- Agitation
- Violence and injury
- Frantic searching
- Recoiling or evasive behaviour
- Aggressive response to attempts at consolation or restraint
Verbal features
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Emotional features
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Autonomic features
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Other features
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Disorders associated with sleep terrors
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Treatment
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References
- Fleetham JA, Fleming JA. Parasomnias. CMAJ 2014; 186:E273-E280.
- Derry CP, Harvey AS, Walker MC, Duncan JS, Berkovic SF. NREM arousal parasomnias and their distinction from nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy: a video EEG analysis. Sleep 2009; 32:1637-1644.
- Ohayon MM, Guilleminault C, Priest RG. Night terrors, sleepwalking, and confusional arousals in the general population: their frequency and relationship to other sleep and mental disorders. J Clin Psychiatry 1999; 60:268-276.
- Derry CP, Duncan JS, Berkovic SF. Paroxysmal motor disorders of sleep: the clinical spectrum and differentiation from epilepsy. Epilepsia 2006; 47:1775-1791.
