Lifetime prevalence and characteristics of sleep paralysis in Italian university students population.
Sleep Medicine October 1, 2024 Costanza Colombo, Nicola Cellini
Sleep paralysis is a REM-related condition where people cannot move voluntarily, often accompanied by intense fear. In a survey of 432 Italian students (average age 22.8, 333 female), 37.5% reported at least one lifetime episode. Common physical features included inability to speak, tingling, and inability to open the eyes; cognitive features included sensing a presence and fear of dying. Those who experienced sleep paralysis had higher anxiety, worse sleep quality, and were more likely to be evening chronotypes compared to those who did not. The prevalence aligns with prior studies.