Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Treatment may be needed if the sleep terrors cause a safety risk, interfere with sleep, don't go away with time or happen more often. Being embarrassed or disrupting the sleep of others may lead some people to seek treatment.
Treatment isn’t necessary if you only have infrequent episodes, like a few night terrors a year. But you should see a healthcare provider if they happen frequently, like a few times each week. You won’t usually need additional testing.
Night terrors usually happen in children ages 3-12, with new cases peaking at age 3 1/2. Learn more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for night terrors.
Night terrors are common in children, and can cause them to wake up screaming and afraid. Learn why night terrors happen and how to stop them.
CBT alone is effective in the treatment of nightmares, although more specialized nightmare-focused treatment variants like CBT-I, IRT, and exposure, relaxation, and rescripting therapy (ERRT) have improved results.
Once diagnosed, there is no specific treatment for night terrors other than comforting the child. Reassurance and education for the parents or guardians are strongly encouraged, especially to ensure the safety of the child during a night terror.
Although sleep terrors can be frightening to those around the person with sleep terrors, they aren't usually a cause for concern. Most children outgrow sleep terrors by their teenage years. Sleep terrors may need treatment if they cause problems with getting enough sleep or cause a safety risk.
This MNT Knowledge Center article explains all you need to know about night terrors, including what causes them, their effects, and how they are treated.
Sleep terrors may follow treatment with neuroleptics, sedatives/hypnotics, stimulants, clonidine, cocaine, opiates, and antihistamines as these medications have the potential to increase the amount of stage three and four sleep [5, 33, 49, 50].
The key feature of night terrors is that people do not remember having them. If you or your child has been experiencing night terrors, it will be helpful to see a healthcare provider who can try to identify the underlying cause and provide some guidance to help with management.