Night Terrors

Last reviewed by Dr.Mary on January 1st, 2012.

What are Night Terrors?

Night terrors are a form of sleep disorder that is chiefly experienced by children. They are further classified as a type parasomnia disorder, indicating that they occur with the involvement of sudden and abnormal bodily movements, behaviour, and extreme emotions.


Night terrors are otherwise referred to as sleep terrors. As is expected from most parasomnia disorders, they happen when a person is just moving into transition towards a state of deep sleep. Episodes of the disorder are usually accompanied by abrupt and jolting movements such as thrashing and screaming, while the person involved may not even be aware nor have any memory of his or her actions. Sleepwalking may also occur along with the episodes.

Only a small percentage of children, approximately a total of 8%, experience this phenomenon; hence it is in actuality considered to be a rare disorder. The population of children most affected by night terrors are those that belong to the age range of 2 to 6 years old. Although the disorder most commonly occurs in the younger population, night terrors may also be undergone by adults as well, with the incidence rate in the older population summing up to an even lower number.

Night Terrors in Adults

In general, the experiences of night terrors endured by adults and children are grossly similar in terms of symptoms and characteristics. Night terrors in adults however do vary due to the possible links and causes that have been identified to bring about the episodes in the older population. Adults who have night terrors are more likely to go through the experience due to certain factors in their diets or lifestyles. For instance, constant stress has been found to trigger the night terrors in adults, along with fatigue and inadequate sleep. Lacking a healthy diet has also been determined as an important factor in the incidence of the disorder.

In addition to differences in the possible sources of the disorder, adult night terrors are considerably rarer and less likely to persist compared to those which occur in children. This may be attributed to the fact that adult night terrors are easier to resolve as causes and triggers can be identified and then resolved in order to eliminate the sleep disorder as well.

Night terrors in adults have also been linked to mental problems in the form of depression and anxiety. Adults who may have an unhealthy way of suppressing anger and hostility have been found to have a greater tendency to have night terrors.

Night Terrors in Children

Children are more likely to suffer from night terrors compared to adults. The incidences of night terrors are greatest especially in children who are aged from 3 to 12 years old. The disorder shows no affinity for either gender, occurring equally in both girls and boys. Night terrors do fortunately go away on their own as the child ages, with full resolution usually occurring once the child reaches adolescence.

The disorder is not a medical threat and does not do direct physical harm in any way, merely existing as a sleep disorder that does not disrupt any of the normal bodily functions. A primary concern however for parents who have children suffering from night terrors is the inadequacy of sleep. Although night terrors usually occur without the child’s awareness, it is still able to lead to negative changes in the child’s sleeping pattern as the sudden disturbances and abrupt episodes of wakefulness prevent the patient from proceeding to the deepest stage of sleep, known as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Reaching this stage is needed for the body to fully recharge itself and achieve the greatest level of rest, hence if a child is continually unable to get enough rest during each night of sleep, he or she may awake the following day feeling lethargic and exhausted. Ineffective sleeping patterns may then disturb the child’s ability to engage in normal activities, such as schoolwork for example.

What causes Night Terrors?

The direct triggers leading to the occurrence of night terrors are not specifically defined, although several factors have been identified and found to possibly play a role in bringing about the sleep disorder. Some of these include not getting enough sleep through tiresome activities; while in contrast, complete exhaustion or fatigue which would normally lead to peaceful slumber can also contribute to night terrors. People who are constantly ridden by anxieties have also been found to have a greater tendency to undergo night terrors. In addition, external or environmental disturbances that can unintentionally disrupt a restful night of sleep such as bright lights or loud noises that can rouse a sleeping person even in the slightest degree can also bring about the sleep disorder.

Night terrors in children are much less understood as they are not as prone to the psychological and physical stresses that adults normally have to go through, but pediatric cases of night terrors can be attributed to physical ailments at times, such as fevers and body malaise. Children are also more likely to experience night terrors when they are forced to sleep in quarters that they are not well-adjusted to, such as an unfamiliar home. This is especially due to the fact that children have a normal tendency to cling to their comfort zones as they associate these with safety.

In general, night terrors have become linked to a genetic predisposition. Mental or psychological disorders such as clinical depression or severe anxiety can run in families and can thus increase a person’s inclination to experiencing night terrors.

Symptoms

The episodes of night terrors retain several constant features. Night terrors are set apart from nightmares as people who have night terrors will wake up from an episode without any recollection of the incident. Nightmares, on the other hand, can be remembered by most people upon waking up from one. In addition to that, people who have episodes of the sleep disorder will most likely undergo the following without having a conscious awareness of their activities:

  • Flailing and thrashing while asleep
  • Screaming
  • Suddenly sitting up in bed
  • Increase in pulse and heart rate
  • Increased rate of respiration, with breathing distinctly heavy
  • Difficult to awaken
  • May sleepwalk
  • May exhibit opening of the eyes or stare with wide eyes while remaining asleep

Night terrors are not a life-threatening disorder, but if they occur regularly, they may cause disruptions during waking hours especially if sleep is not adequate enough to allow the person to get enough rest over the night. Should any of the following occur, it may be necessary to receive professional medical advice:

  • Night terrors occur with increased frequency
  • Constantly prevent the person involved from getting enough rest during sleep, while also possibly disturbing the sleep of those who reside in the same household.
  • The child or parent has developed a fear of going to sleep or falling asleep.
  • Episodes of night terrors have caused injury or accidents, especially if the patient sleepwalks or falls out of bed due to the sudden movements.

Treatment

Night terrors do not usually warrant receiving treatment of any form as most cases are not at all severely disruptive. It might however take some time for a parent to get used to it as seeing the sudden changes in a child’s behaviour while remaining asleep can be disturbing to some degree. Parents should nevertheless rest assured that the episode is not harmful; they should learn that they can simply wait until the behaviour is over. Parents who deal with kids who have the sleep disorder need only remain calm throughout the occurrence. The parent may choose to gently restrain the child while witnessing the episode so as to prevent physical harm; and verbal coaxing should be soft and calm rather than loud and alarmed as the latter may merely serve to aggravate the situation.

If the night terrors occur due to a mental problem – which may be the case for adults who have the disorder, the treatment regimen developed will then be devised to address the underlying condition. Some of the possible forms of therapy therapists or doctors utilize include hypnosis, cognitive behaviour therapy, and relaxation therapy.

Drug usage for night terrors is not advised, especially for pediatric cases. Should the disorder occur due to a depressive disorder however, benzodiazepines as well as antidepressants may be taken to reduce the incidence of the episodes. These medications must only be taken with a doctor’s prescription.

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