Sleep Paralysis, a Medical Condition with a Diverse Cultural Interpretation
International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research July 1, 2018 Esther Olunu, Ruth Kimo, Esther Olufunmbi Onigbinde et al.
Sleep paralysis (SP) is an inability to move during sleep onset or waking, occurring in healthy individuals or alongside psychiatric, familial, and sleep disorders. The review states that 8% of the general population suffers from SP, though this figure has been described inaccurately, and no standard definition or etiology exists. The authors aim to describe SP medically and examine how it is interpreted and managed across cultural groups, noting that cultural and ethnic disparities in identifying SP have led to varied management approaches.