Sleep Terror Disorder

This Parasomnia is characterized by recurrent episodes in which the individual abruptly awakens with a cry of terror, autonomic arousal, and other fear behavior. They may not respond readily to efforts to comfort or awaken them fully. If they do awaken they have limited recollection of dream material, but they are completely amnesic for the event the following morning.

Definition reprinted with permission from Culebras, Antonio Butterworth-Heinemann: Clinical Handbook of Sleep Disorders, 1e

Diagnostic criteria for 307.46 Sleep Terror Disorder

(DSM IV - TR)
(cautionary statement)

A. Recurrent episodes of abrupt awakening from sleep, usually occurring during the first third of the major sleep episode and beginning with a panicky scream. 

B. Intense fear and signs of autonomic arousal, such as tachycardia, rapid breathing, and sweating, during each episode. 

C. Relative unresponsiveness to efforts of others to comfort the person during the episode. 

D. No detailed dream is recalled and there is amnesia for the episode. 

E. The episodes cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. 

F. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance(e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

Reprinted with permission from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Copyright 2000 American Psychiatric Association

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