Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: subtle myoclonus (1)

Sleep terror

Sleep terrors are sudden, partial awakenings from deep non-REM sleep, associated with intense motor behavior and strong autonomic responses. Sleep terrors are mainly a childhood phenomenon, with peak prevalence at 5 to 7 years of age. They are usually benign with a tendency for spontaneous resolution. Safety measures are of primary importance to protect the patient from injury, but treatment with medications is not usually necessary.