[understanding of pavor nocturnus in adults. Discussion of a case using polygraphy and infrared light video recording].
Direct observations of night terrors in adults are rare. Our understanding of this sleep disorder is therefore fragmentary. In a single-case study, 17 night terror attacks and 5 utterances of sleep talking were examined by polygraphic and infrared-video recordings, which provided new material. These observations are compared with the literature and discussed under 3 aspects. 1) Phenomenology of behaviour: The behaviour following the initial stereotype terror attacks was found to be extremely expressive, especially in the nonverbal dimension. Mainly defensive or counteraggressve patterns were acted out. As to the contents of verbal utterances self-assertion and sexuality were main themes. In contrast to the stereotype of the initial terror, the patient's reaction seems specific for the individual and therefore psychodynamically relevant. -2) Psychophysiology: Broughton's disorder of arousal-hypothesis, which actually refers to the James-Lange-theory of emotions, is rejected in favour of the concept that the initial terror elicits an emergency state (Cannon). For the discrimination between night terrors and sleep talking, basic skin resistance is a reliable psychophysiological parameter proving full accordance with behavioural criteria. Increases in heart rate are partially due to intense emotions during an attack. -3) Psychiatric considerations of pathogenesis and aetiology: The night terror attack is considered as a  psychogenic dissociative state during which suppressed aggressive impulses are acted out. Psychoanalytic interpretations should focus primarily on the defense and aggression rather than the anxiety of the initial terror. The aetiology of this disorder is still unknown. It seems likely that dispositional factors are involved.
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014705:Verbal Behavior
Zun Verständnis des Pavor nocturnus bei Erwachsenen. Diskussion anhand einer Falluntersuchung mittels Polygraphie und Infrarotlicht-Videoaufnahmen.