Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Sleeping Paralysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Mahmoud T Hefnawy, Basma E Amer, Samar A Amer, Khaled Moghib, Yehya Khlidj, Bahaa Elfakharany, Adel Mouffokes, Zainab J Alazzeh, Nishant P Soni, Muhannad Wael, Mohamed E Elsayed
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 167,133 |
| Population | General population, psychiatric patients, and students from 25 countries |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Keywords | Hallucinations Isolated sleep paralysis Isp Prevalence Sleeping paralysis |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key findings | The global prevalence of sleep paralysis is 30%, with higher rates among psychiatric patients (35%) and students (34%). |
Abstract
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a mixed state of consciousness and sleep, combining features of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep with those of wakefulness. The exact cause of SP is unknown, and its prevalence varies among the studies. We aim to identify SP's global prevalence, the affected population's characteristics, and the SP's clinical picture. We searched three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS)) using a unique search strategy to identify eligible studies. All observational studies identifying the prevalence or frequency of sleeping paralysis were included. No exclusions are made based on country, race, or questionnaire. The analysis was performed using the latest version of R software (R Core Team, Vienna, Austria). The analysis included 76 studies from 25 countries with 167,133 participants. The global prevalence of SP was 30% (95% CI (22%, 39%)). There were similar frequencies of isolated SP and SP (33%, 95% CI (26%, 42%), I2 = 97%, P <0.01; 31%, 95% CI (21%, 43%), I2 = 100%, P = 0, respectively). A subgroup analysis showed that the majority of those who experienced SP were psychiatric patients (35%, 95% CI (20%, 55%), I2 = 96%, P <0.01). The prevalence among non-psychiatric patients was among students (34%, 95% CI (23%, 47%), I2 = 100%, P = 0). Auditory and visual hallucinations were reported in 24.25% of patients. Around 4% had only visual hallucinations. Meta-regression showed no association between the frequency of SP and sex. Publication bias was detected among the included studies through visual inspection of funnel plot asymmetry. Our findings revealed that 30% of the population suffered from SP, especially psychiatric patients and students. The majority of SP cases lacked associated hallucinations, while a noteworthy proportion experienced combined visual and auditory hallucinations.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Advances in brain and religion studies: a review and synthesis of recent representative studies. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2024
- Prisoners of the Body: The Link Between Interoception and Sleep Paralysis. Journal of Sleep Research June 12, 2026
- [Prevalence and phenomenology of sleep paralysis in medical students]. Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova 2026
- Sleep Paralysis: Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, and Treatment Strategies. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience August 25, 2025
- Lifetime prevalence and characteristics of sleep paralysis in Italian university students population. Sleep Medicine October 1, 2024
Cites 63
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- Terror and bliss? Commonalities and distinctions between sleep paralysis, lucid dreaming, and their associations with waking life experiences Journal of Sleep Research July 27, 2016
- Increased creative thinking in narcolepsy. Brain July 1, 2019
and 58 more in the library