Night terror is a sleep disorder and lasts a few minutes. It can often be accompanied by sleepwalking. Although the prevalence is much higher in children up to 5 years old, it can occur in other age groups.
Mario Louzã, psychiatrist, doctor of medicine from the University of Würzburg, and Affiliated Member of the Institute of Psychoanalysis of the Brazilian Society of Psychoanalysis of São Paulo, explains that night terror (TN) is a sleep disorder that is included in the group of parasomnias. . • It is characterized by an abrupt behavior of motor agitation and short-term fear or manifestation of terror during sleep. Physical manifestations of terror / fear occur, such as tachycardia and sweating. The person in general does not respond to environmental stimuli ?, he says.
Typically, the child in the middle of the night shouts, shakes in bed, has the expression of fear or terror; This lasts a few minutes and she goes back to sleep as if nothing had happened. Due to restlessness, the child may eventually be injured, often needing to contain it to prevent injury. Usually the person does not remember the day after the episode of TN ?, highlights Louzã.
The doctor points out that NT is typical of children, usually between 3 and 8 years of age (up to 6% prevalence), being more rare in adults (2% prevalence).
Night Terror X Nightmare
Louzã points out that sleep is divided into REM (Rapid Eye Movements) and non-REM phase. TN occurs in the non-REM phase; already the nightmare, during the REM phase (sleep period in which dreams occur).
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Personare expert psychologist Thais Khoury explains that nightmares, in general, although impactful, occur during deeper REM sleep, and can often be remembered without much confusion. Often the person does not even wake up or wake up quickly, then go back to sleep. Night terror, on the other hand, is accompanied by typical symptoms, and occurs in deeper stages of sleep, causing disorientation and a sense of dread. In general, the contents can not be remembered ?, he says.
Causes of Night Terror
It is not known exactly what are the causes of TN. Genetic and neurodevelopmental factors may be implicated. Apparently these lead to an instability of the slow waves of sleep. Some factors seem to increase the chance of TN: sleep deprivation, obstructive apnea (impaired breathing during sleep, with respiratory arrests due to airway obstruction) ?, says Louzã.
Thais points out that the causes of nocturnal terror may be linked to an immaturity of the nervous system, which would allow understanding the prevalence in young children. ? It is not uncommon for family occurrences, although there is no evidence that it is genetic. External factors such as sudden change of routine and stress may favor the onset of seizures. Sleep deprivation can also be a contributing factor, as can medication use or withdrawal?
Symptoms of Night Terror
Thais highlights the main signs of TN:
- Agitation;
- Moans;
- Expressions of terror;
- Screams;
- Mental confusion that lingers on waking, may not recognize people around you, and may also behave aggressively towards you and others.
It is worth remembering that, due to the agitation, eventually the child / person may be injured during the night terror episode.
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What to do during a TN episode?
Thais points out that one should avoid waking up the child or adult. "The most direct measures involve watching so that they don't fall or injure themselves, break objects or leave the room?" Soothe the child, if she wakes up, in a loving and understanding manner. And in cases where recurrence is very frequent or intense with the possibility of self-harm, should seek professional monitoring ?, says.
Louzã points out that what parents should do is basically restrain the child to avoid getting hurt. They should still remain calm, try to talk to the child (although almost always the child does not interact in the conversation). And is it important to take the child for evaluation with the psychiatrist or neuropediatrician ?, he says.
Night Terror Treatment
According to Thais, treatments revolve around psychotherapy, family monitoring and preventive measures, and eventually prescription medications. With time and maturity, symptoms tend to disappear. But in adults with recurrent episodes, treatment may be more difficult.Should each case be particularly evaluated for better referral ?, says the psychologist.
Louzã points out that in cases where the agitation is more severe, antidepressant medications may be prescribed.
Ways to Prevent Night Terror
To avoid TN, the psychologist Thais's guidelines are:
- Avoid stressors that may increase anxiety level;
- Seek consistency in sleep schedule;
- Avoid difficult to digest, fatty and stimulating foods;
- Watch for medications in use that may trigger the episodes;
- Take care of the affective quality of relationships consistently.
These are measures that can help minimize the likelihood of the crisis occurring, although there are no guarantees. In some cases, it is important not to leave dangerous objects within reach or open doors that allow you to exit to the street in order to prevent hazardous situations for the person. Offering warmth at the moment of awakening can also be of great value in calming down and allowing them to stabilize ?, concludes the psychologist.
Although it is not customary to generate serious problems, it is valid to have good habits in order to avoid night horror episodes. In the case of children in particular? who represent the majority of patients with this disorder? parents should be vigilant to prevent them from getting injured. They should also show all love and understanding in how to deal with them, and do not hesitate to seek professional help.
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