Next Steps

Outlook

Nightmare disorder

• Most children outgrow this disorder.

• A small number of children report this disorder persisting into adulthood and becoming a lifelong problem.

• Some persons may experience a reduction of the symptoms later in life.

Sleep terror disorder

• If the onset is in childhood, the outlook is excellent.

• If the onset is in adulthood, the outlook is poor because the disorder tends to be chronic (lasting a long time), with a waxing and waning course.

Sleepwalking disorder

• If the onset is in childhood, the outlook is excellent.
  
  
• If the onset is in adulthood and no evidence of an underlying neurological or substance abuse problem is present, the outlook is poor because the disorder tends to be chronic, following a waxing and waning course.

Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder

• The outlook of these disorders is variable.
  
  
• Many persons develop long-term remissions, whereas others continue to experience the symptoms throughout life.
  
  
• Generally, the severity increases as one becomes older.