Night Terrors: Causes & Reasons

Possible Causes for Night Terrors

Prognosis Virtually all children grow out of night terrors before adolescence. Adult night terrors tend to be more chronic with a waxing and waning course. [patient.info]

Night Terrors (Sleep Terrors) Night terrors, also known as sleep terrors, usually awaken patients in extreme panic and fear. [sleepwellmd.com]

Night/Sleep Terrors Night terrors usually start with a terrifying scream, increased heart and breathing rates, sweating and a frightened expression. [psychnet-uk.com]

Sexual Abuse Victim

I held his hand as his night terrors, hyper-vigilance and claustrophobia began to make sense. When Trav’s enlistment was up, we moved back home to Maine. [theatlantic.com]

Anxiety Disorder

But that night I had recurring nightmares of retching in the bathroom in the basement of the center. [theatlantic.com]

I waited at red lights in terror. When I got home, I crawled into bed and slept for several hours. I felt better when I woke up; the nausea was gone. [theatlantic.com]

Epilepsy

Examples include: Breath holding Fainting (syncope) Facial or body twitching (myoclonus) Sleep disorders ( night terrors, sleepwalking, and cataplexy) They may occur just [healthychildren.org]

These include breath-holding spells, bedwetting, night terrors, tics and shudder attacks.[134] Gastroesophageal reflux may cause arching of the back and twisting of the head [en.wikipedia.org]

confusional arousals from N3/N2 Minutes 1 or fewer per night, rarely multiple nightly Arousal from N3 or N2 sleep during polysomnography/sleep EEG REM sleep behavior disorder [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Even when a PTSD sufferer gets to sleep, normal sleep is no guarantee; they suffer night terrors, nightmares, and night sweats. [mnwelldir.org]

Parasomnia Type Sleepwalking

Night terrors and sleepwalking are sometimes called arousal parasomnias. [patient.info]

Night terrors are similar to nightmares, but night terrors usually occur during deep sleep. [sleepdisordersguide.com]

If you have night terrors, you look scared, but in reality, you’re sleeping through this entire display unaware. [sweetsleepstudio.com]

Mixed Anxiety and Depressive Disorder

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of mixed anxiety and depressive disorder (MADD) with reference to functional characteristics and symptomatic characteristics in comparison with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and groups showing subthreshold symptoms (exclusively[…] [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Night Terrors

This scary synopsis is the result of a night terror. [boystownpediatrics.org]

Night Terrors on Tardis Data Core, an external wiki "Night Terrors" on IMDb "Night Terrors" at the BBC Doctor Who homepage [en.wikipedia.org]

Pavor nocturnus (night terror, sleep terror) is a parasomnia disorder characterized by panicky awakening, fear and signs of autonomic arousal (tachypnea, flushing, diaphoresis [symptoma.com]

Abuse and Neglect

The vast majority of birth parents and foster parents for children with special needs do the best they can in challenging circumstances. Many describe the frustrating circumstance of knowing more than their physicians about their child's unusual medical conditions. In general, physicians are well-advised to listen[…] [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Sleep Paralysis

Although sleep paralysis is terrifying and can happen at night, this condition is no relation to night terrors. [vitals.lifehacker.com]

Night Terrors 00:19 5. Brain Fog 02:15 6. A Moment Of Clarity 00:32 7. Approached From Behind 01:37 8. Echoes Of The Past 00:39 9. Hallucination 00:55 10. [occasionallytapes.bandcamp.com]

Sleep paralysis differs from dreaming and night terrors mainly due to the fact that the brain is awake, even if it hasn’t told the body just yet. [futurity.org]

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), Necrotizing Retinitis Diagnosis: Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), Necrotizing Retinitis Comment to photo: Author(s): Koniszewski, Gerd,, Univ.-Augenklinik, Erlangen, Germany ICD10-Code: B05.8 Path: Systemic Diseases -> Infections -> Virus -> Measles Additional[…] [atlasophthalmology.net]

Autosomal Dominant Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy Type 3

Differential diagnosis Usually misdiagnosed as benign nocturnal parasomnias, night terrors, nightmares, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, psychiatric and medical disorders [epilepsy.com]

Further night terrors are accompanied by screaming and intense fear; the individual falls back to sleep and frequently has no recollection of the episode upon awakening in [ispub.com]

Other sleep disturbances are often confused with nocturnal seizures such as night terrors, sleepwalking and other parasomnias (types of sleep disorders). [healthyliving.azcentral.com]

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Many people mistake REM sleep behavior disorder for sleepwalking or night terrors. [study.com]

On the other hand, people who sleepwalk or have night terrors are usually confused and groggy upon waking and don’t become rapidly alert. [everydayhealth.com]

The confusion that a person who sleepwalks or has night terrors experiences once they wake up is not present in RBD. [study.com]

Jet Lag Type of Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder

terrors, sleepwalking, sleep talking, head banging, wetting the bed and grinding your teeth are kinds of sleep problems called parasomnias. [icdlist.com]

Night Terrors Children ages three to five are most likely to experience night terrors. [drmayankshukla.com]

Sleep Terrors Sleep terrors, or night terrors, occur in 2% to 3% of children and adults. [clevelandclinicmeded.com]

Idiopathic Disease

Overview Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a disorder that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding. The bleeding results from unusually low levels of platelets — the cells that help blood clot. Formerly known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, ITP can cause purple bruises, as well as tiny reddish-purple[…] [mayoclinic.org]

Somnambulism

Research Sleepwalking, night... Sleepwalking, night terrors, and consciousness. [doi.org]

To determine some personality and psychoneurotic characteristics of adults who have the sleepwalking-night terrors syndrome. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] sleepwalking, night terrors, or both. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome

She does not settle and seems to have night terrors, wakes up cranky or cries/screams for up to 1hr. [drugs.com]

[…] eating syndrome · Night terror · Nocturia · Nocturnal myoclonus · Non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome · Obesity hypoventilation syndrome · Ondine's curse · Parasomnia · Sleep [dormirpr.com]

These events may be misdiagnosed as temporal lobe seizures however confusional arousals and night terrors are typically longer and are only broadly stereotyped. [epilepsydiagnosis.org]

Organic Delusional Disorder

[night terrors] F51.5 Nightmares F51.8 Other nonorganic sleep disorders F51.9 Nonorganic sleep disorder, unspecified F52 Sexual dysfunction, not caused by organic disorder [rxpgonline.com]

[night terrors] F51.5 Nightmares F51.8 Other nonorganic sleep disorders F51.9 Nonorganic sleep disorder, unspecified (Back to top) F52.0 Lack or loss of sexual desire F52.1 [naswma.org]

(night terrors) F51.5 Nightmares F51.8 Other non-organic sleeps disorders F52 ??? [priory.com]

Familial Episodic Pain Syndrome Type 3

terrors and bruxism. [ichd-3.org]

These events may be misdiagnosed as temporal lobe seizures however confusional arousals and night terrors are typically longer and are only broadly stereotyped. [epilepsydiagnosis.org]

Additional conditions that may also occur in these patients include episodes of motion sickness and periodic sleep disorders including sleep walking, sleep talking, night [ichd-3.org]

Bruxism

Disruptions in sleep can be caused by a variety of issues, from teeth grinding (bruxism) to night terrors. [dictionary.cambridge.org]

Nightmares and night terrors are both scary and can cause sleep disturbances, but they are not the same thing. Knowing... [sleepfoundation.org]

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone: More than 50 percent of adults have nightmares or intense visions at night. [sleepfoundation.org]

Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy

We highlight the relevance of genetic testing in patients with atypical and clustering episodes of nightmares, night terrors, or panic attacks, as these patients could be [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The seizures can vary from a simple arousal from sleep, at times confused as a nightmare or night terror, to more involved focal motor movements like twisting, turning, pelvic [epilepsy.com]

Sleep disorders: insomnia, sleepwalking, night terrors, nightmares, and enuresis. Annals of Internal Medicine. 1987;106(4):582–592. [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 46. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Insulinoma

This case highlights the importance of considering hypoglycemia in the evaluation of night terrors and new-onset seizures. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

terror–like events) or other signs of hypoglycemia, 12, 13 particularly in the early morning hours after a night of sleep. [pediatrics.aappublications.org]

A 16-year-old boy with a recent diagnosis of night terrors was evaluated for recurrent early morning hypoglycemia after an early morning seizure. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Breathing-Related Sleep Disorder

daytime sleepiness or behavior problems sleepwalking or night terrors Because it's hard for them to get a good night's sleep, kids might: have a hard time waking up in the [kidshealth.org]

Night terrors occur in the first few hours of sleep. Nightmares involve vivid recall, whereas night terrors generally have amnesia of the event. [sleepapnea.org]

or night terrors Exhibit daytime sleepiness Develop behavioral problems or declining grades If you suspect sleep apnea in your child, it’s important to consult a pediatrician [helpguide.org]

Organic Personality Disorder

( night terrors ) ( F51.5 ) Nightmares ( F52 ) Sexual dysfunction, not caused by organic disorder or disease ( F52.0 ) Lack or loss of sexual desire Frigidity Hypoactive [en.wikipedia.org]

terror disorder Night terrors Sleep terror disorder Sleepwalking Somnambulism 307.47 Other dysfunctions of sleep stages or arousal from sleep Nightmare disorder Nightmares [theodora.com]

(night terrors) F51.5 Nightmares F51.8 Other non-organic sleeps disorders F52 ??? [priory.com]

Generalized Epilepsy - Paroxysmal Dyskinesia Syndrome

terrors) [3] Paroxysmal abnormalities of tone (eg, opisthotonic posturing and clonus) In infants, apneic syndromes including gastroesophageal reflux and jitteriness of the [emedicine.medscape.com]

These events may be misdiagnosed as temporal lobe seizures however confusional arousals and night terrors are typically longer and are only broadly stereotyped. [epilepsydiagnosis.org]

[…] dystonias Paroxysmal dyskinesias [3] Encephalopathies and metabolic disorders Pseudoepileptic seizures or nonepileptic seizures Nocturnal paroxysmal events (eg, sleep apnea, night [emedicine.medscape.com]

Breath-Holding Spell

Night terrors – often confused for nightmares, a child having a night terror will wake up in the early part of the night yelling and screaming, which is why parents think [keepkidshealthy.com]

Be prepared for when you child eats a bug, has a night terror, or wakes up barking like a seal. [keepkidshealthy.com]

Fortunately, night terrors are normal. Your child likely won’t even remember what happened the next morning. And they eventually stop. [keepkidshealthy.com]

Familial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Type 5

Night terror ; night terrors occur in the non-REM phase of sleep and are characterized by screaming, cold sweat, and hallucinations, approximately 1.5–2 hours after falling [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Night terrors : these affect children aged between about 6 and 8 years, who suddenly awaken from a sound sleep, wide-eyed, screaming, and inconsolable. [patient.info]

Children also often have other events which can mimic seizures including: breath-holding spells syncope (or fainting) gastroesophegeal reflux disease (GERD) night terrors [childneurologyfoundation.org]

Insomnia

terror is disconcerting to say the least. [sleepfoundation.org]

terror) Sleep which is interrupted by nightmares Small amounts of sleep with cat napping at other times Occasional complete absence of sleep Not so normal Any of the above [hw.ac.uk]

terrors, sleepwalking, sleep talking, limb movement disorders, restless legs syndrome. [patient.info]

Clonidine Poisoning

Case Report A 3.5-year-old male with a history of a seizure disorder and night terrors presented following difficulty walking, excessive sleeping, agitation when awake, and [paperity.org]

Spinocerebellar Ataxia with Rigidity and Peripheral Neuropathy

It usually occurs in people who have had untreated syphilis for many years. syphilis Diseases & Conditions Night terrors in children Night terrors (sleep terrors) are a sleep [mountsinai.org]

terror night terror (sleep terror; pavor nocturnes) sleep disorder (usually of children) involving abrupt awakening from sleep in a terrified state that represents incomplete [strokecenter.org]

The clinical presentation is that of a history of repeated episodes of disturbance of consciousness (lasting from hours to days) e.g. sleep reversal, night terrors, and episodes [neuroweb.us]