Final answer:
Nightmare disorder and night terrors differ in the stage of sleep in which they occur. Nightmare disorder involves distressing dreams during REM sleep, while night terrors occur during non-REM sleep, specifically deep NREM stage 3 sleep.
Step-by-step explanation:
The biggest difference between nightmare disorder and night terrors is the stage of sleep in which they occur. Nightmare disorder is a sleep disorder characterized by frequent and distressing nightmares that occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Night terrors, on the other hand, are a type of parasomnia that occur during non-REM sleep, specifically during deep NREM (non-rapid eye movement) stage 3 sleep.
Night terrors usually involve a sense of panic, screaming, and attempts to escape from the immediate environment. Individuals experiencing night terrors often have no memory of the events and may fall back asleep quickly. Nightmare disorder, on the other hand, involves recurrent and disturbing dreams that often lead to waking up feeling scared or anxious, with a clear recollection of the dream sequences.
It is important to note that night terrors and nightmares are different sleep disorders and have different characteristics and treatments.