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Nightmare Disorders in Children

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Parasomnias

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Abstract

Nightmares are defined as episodes of awakening from REM sleep with accompanying disturbed mentation, which may involve emotions such as fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, disgust, or other dysphoric states. Nightmares are common events in the pediatric population. Approximately half of 3–6-year-old children experience these frightening events. Nightmares are often associated with childhood anxiety disorder, and other psychiatric conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder, affective disorders, psychotic disorders, Tourette’s syndrome, and personality disorders. Nightmares are also more common in children taking a variety of prescription and recreational medications. The differential diagnosis of nightmares includes nocturnal seizures and night terrors. Diagnosis of nightmares can usually be made by history alone. Treatment involves reassurance and lifestyle modifications. Several studies have shown the efficacy of other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapies or hypnosis, though these treatments have not been systematically evaluated in children.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Sriram Ramgopal M.D. & Marcin Zarowski M.D., Ph.D.

  2. 8 Garfield Lane East, Andover, MA, 01810, USA

    Sriram Ramgopal M.D.

  3. Polysomnography and Sleep Research Unit, Department of Developmental Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

    Marcin Zarowski M.D., Ph.D.

  4. Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 02115, Boston, MA, USA

    Sanjeev V. Kothare M.D.

Authors
  1. Sriram Ramgopal M.D.
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  2. Marcin Zarowski M.D., Ph.D.
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  3. Sanjeev V. Kothare M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sriram Ramgopal M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Associate Professor, Department of Neuro, Boston Children's Hospital, Longwood Avenue 300, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Sanjeev V. Kothare

  2. Feinberg School of Medicine, Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Northwestern University, Biesterfield Road 800, Elk Grove Village, 60007, Illinois, USA

    Anna Ivanenko

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Ramgopal, S., Zarowski, M., Kothare, S. (2013). Nightmare Disorders in Children. In: Kothare, S., Ivanenko, A. (eds) Parasomnias. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7627-6_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7627-6_12

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