The prevalence of sleep paralysis in medical students in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice March 3, 2023 J. Duarte, Gisela Roxana Lisi, B. Carroll et al.
Sleep paralysis occurs in 40.7% of medical students at the University of Buenos Aires, with most experiencing anxiety related to the episodes. Poor self-perceived sleep quality is associated with higher incidence. Hypnopompic (upon waking) sleep paralysis is most common, and most students first experience symptoms after age 18, with symptoms worsening during college. The Incubus phenomenon—a feeling of pressure on the chest—affects 14.5%. Most students do not link sleep paralysis to religious or paranormal beliefs. Clinicians should recognize this condition to avoid misdiagnosing it as psychosis.