pavor nocturnus
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A sleep disorder characterized by episodes of intense fear, screaming, and flailing while asleep, distinct from a typical nightmare as it occurs during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. The experience is often not recalled upon waking.
Usage
The term is a clinical and somewhat formal synonym for sleep terror or night terror. It is used in medical, psychological, and descriptive contexts. * The child's episodes of screaming and panic during the night were diagnosed as pavor nocturnus. * Pavor nocturnus is more common in children and usually happens in the first few hours of sleep.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in contrast to nightmare (which occurs during REM sleep and is usually remembered).
- It can be part of a differential diagnosis in sleep medicine: "The patient's symptoms were consistent with pavor nocturnus rather than a REM sleep behavior disorder."
Variants and Related Words
- Sleep Terror (n): The more common modern term for the same condition.
- Night Terror (n): A common, less clinical synonym.
- Parasomnia (n): A category of sleep disorders that includes pavor nocturnus, sleepwalking, and nightmares.
Synonyms
- Sleep terror
- Night terror
Antonyms
- Peaceful sleep
- Tranquil rest (These are conceptual opposites, not direct clinical antonyms.)
Related Phrases
- Disorder of arousal: A technical description for pavor nocturnus and sleepwalking, indicating they occur during transitions from deep NREM sleep.
- NREM sleep parasomnia: A precise classification for this type of sleep disturbance.
Noun
- a disorder of sleep characterized by a dream of terrifying dimensions far worse than a typical nightmare; they occur during NREM sleep