BMC Psychiatry
June 7, 2022
Paulina Wróbel-knybel, Michał Flis, Joanna Róg et al.
9 citations
Sleep paralysis affects 33.14% of Polish students, highlighting its significant prevalence in this population. Among the 2,553 analyzed participants, factors like having three or more health issues (odds ratio of 2.3) and any mental disorder (1.77) increased the likelihood of experiencing sleep paralysis. High anxiety levels (1.20), smoking (1.48), and alcohol consumption (1.52) also contributed to this risk. These findings suggest that mental health status, lifestyle choices, and physical health are critical in understanding sleep disorders like sleep paralysis among students.
Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
April 13, 2025
Paulina Wróbel-knybel, Leszek Wołkowski, Hanna Karakuła-juchnowicz
Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis (RISP) is a REM sleep parasomnia with few treatment options. Cognitive-behavioural therapy, the first-line treatment, has limited availability. Meditation-relaxation therapy (MR therapy) is a new option supported by preliminary studies. Two case reports describe MR therapy over an 8-week period. In patient 1, the number and severity of sleep paralysis episodes, as well as worry and stress related to RISP, reduced significantly. In patient 2, who also had an emotionally unstable personality and an eating disorder, RISP did not improve, but depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder decreased and cortisol levels normalized. MR therapy appears promising, though its effect may be limited when other psychiatric disorders coexist.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
June 25, 2022
Paulina Wróbel-knybel, Michał Flis, Joanna Róg et al.
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a temporary inability to move while conscious, occurring when falling asleep or waking up. Among 844 professionals at high risk—nurses and midwives, police officers, teachers, and a mixed group—prevalence ranged from 15.5% in police officers to 39.4% in the mixed group. Symptoms of PTSD and anxiety were linked to SP in nurses and the mixed group. Other factors associated with SP frequency and severity included age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, sleep duration, and perceived stress. The findings indicate that psychological and lifestyle factors together contribute to SP, suggesting a complex cause and the need for targeted prevention and treatment.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
May 18, 2020
Paulina Wróbel-knybel, Hanna Karakuła-juchnowicz, Michał Flis et al.
Sleep paralysis affects about 7.6% of the general population, but among Polish university students in Lublin the rate is 32%, higher than the 28.3% average for other student populations. Somatic symptoms dominate: 94% of those reporting sleep paralysis experienced physical sensations, most commonly rapid heartbeat (76%); 93% reported fear, especially fear of death (46%); and 66% had hallucinations, mostly visual (37%). More frequent episodes were linked to shorter sleep and sleeping on the back. Severity of physical symptoms correlated with lifestyle factors and anxiety. A substantial number of students experience recurrent sleep paralysis accompanied by fear and physical distress.
Current Problems of Psychiatry
September 1, 2018
Paulina Wróbel-knybel, M. Flis, R. Dubiel et al.
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a condition involving a feeling of paralysis with inhibited consciousness, often accompanied by hallucinations, somatic complaints, and intense anxiety. Its pathophysiology is not fully understood but is thought to result from a dysfunctional overlap of REM sleep and wakefulness. SP occurs in healthy people but is more frequent in those with mental and somatic disorders. The lifetime prevalence in the general population is 7.6%. The disorder has been described since antiquity, with cultural interpretations varying widely. Treatment involves lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy.