Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis.
Sleep medicine clinics March 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.10.006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | General population |
| Keywords | Dissociate state Hallucinations Rem parasomnia Rem sleep Sleep paralysis |
| Key findings | Sleep paralysis is a benign, spontaneously resolving dissociate state with a 7.6% lifetime prevalence, requiring no drug treatment but potentially benefiting from sleep hygiene education and cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and hallucinations. |
Abstract
Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis has a 7.6% lifetime prevalence of at least one episode in the general population. Episodes resolve spontaneously and are benign. Sleep paralysis represents a dissociate state, with persistence of the rapid eye movement (REM)-sleep muscle atonia in the waking state. The intrusion of alpha electroencephalogram into REM sleep is followed by an arousal response and then by persistence of REM atonia into wakefulness. Predisposing factors include irregular sleep-wake schedules, sleep deprivation, and jetlag. No drug treatment is required. Patients should be informed about sleep hygiene. Cognitive behavioral therapy may be useful in cases accompanied by anxiety and frightening hallucinations.