Case 16 - A terrified and terrifying scream

Summary

This chapter discusses the case of a 48-year-old woman who was having episodes of sitting upright in bed, letting out a blood curdling scream and patting the bed with both hands, and often going back to sleep without realizing what had happened. It presents the clinical history, examination, follow-up, treatment, diagnosis, and the results of the procedures performed on the patient. The specialist ordered an MRI of the brainwith special thin cuts through the frontal and temporal lobes, and nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) with an additional all-night 16-channel EEG running concomitantly with the PSG. Based on the results of the studies, a diagnosis of sleep terrors or disorder of partial arousal was made. She was prescribed clonazepam 0.5mg and was urged to follow up with the behavior therapist. Six months later, her events were all well controlled by the behavioral therapy recommendations.