| Characteristic | Sleep terror | Nightmare |
| Timing during the night | First third (deep slow wave sleep) | Last third (REM sleep) |
| Presentation of fear behaviors | During the event | After the event |
| Movements | Common | Rare |
| Severity | Severe | Mild |
| Vocalizations | Common | Rare |
| Autonomic (sympathetic) output | Severe and intense | Mild |
| Amnesia | Present | Absent |
| State on waking | Confused/disoriented | Normal |
| Injuries or violence | Common | Rare |
| Displacement from bed | Common | Very rare |
