Joan is a six-year-old child who cries out in the middle of the night, appearing frightened and inconsolable.Her parents are unable to comfort her during these episodes, and Joan has no memory of the event in the morning.What does Joan appear to be experiencing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Joan's symptoms match those of sleep terrors, which are characterized by sudden awakenings in which the individual appears to be extremely frightened and may even scream or thrash around. This is different from nightmares, which occur during REM sleep and can be remembered in the morning. Temporary amnesia would not explain the ongoing pattern of nighttime awakenings, and dyssomnia refers to overall sleep disturbances rather than a specific type of episode.

Joan Is a Six-Year-Old Child Who Cries Out in the Middle