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Article: Sleep terror disorder
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
- Author:
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Sleep terror disorder
Definition
Sleep terror disorder is defined as repeated temporary arousal from sleep, during which the affected person appears and acts extremely frightened.
Description
Sleep terror disorder is sometimes referred to as
pavor nocturnus
when it occurs in children, and
incubus
when it occurs in adults. Sleep terrors are also sometimes called night terrors, though sleep terror is the preferred term, as episodes can occur during daytime naps as well as at night. Sleep terror is a disorder that primarily affects children, although a small number of adults are affected as well.
Causes and symptoms
Causes
The causes of sleep terror are for the most part unknown. ...