"It Started After Trauma": The Effects of Traumatic Grief on Sleep Paralysis.

Bereavement, especially traumatic loss, is linked to more frequent sleep paralysis, a terrifying REM sleep parasomnia. In an exploratory mixed-methods study of 168 participants, 55 described factors they believed led to their sleep paralysis; nearly half of those with a traumatic loss cited death-related triggers. Statistical models showed that traumatic death, time since death, religiosity, and age were associated with increased sleep paralysis frequency in the prior month, prior year, or both. Unexpectedly, sleep paralysis in the prior month was greater when the death occurred 1–6 years earlier compared to 9 or more years earlier, but not when less than one year earlier.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Adverse life events are associated with the often-terrifying REM sleep parasomnia of sleep paralysis (SP), but the impact of bereavement on SP has not been specifically examined. This exploratory, mixed-methods study (N = 168) includes qualitative data from 55 participants who described factors they believed led to their SP. Of these, almost half with a traumatic loss listed death-related precipitants. In unadjusted (bivariate) negative binomial regression models, traumatic death, time since death, religiosity, and age estimated increased SP frequency in the prior month, prior year, or both. In multivariable models, traumatic death, time since death, and age estimated increased frequency in the prior month, prior year, or both. Unexpectedly, in all models, as compared to death ≥9 years earlier, prior month SP was greater with death 1-6 years earlier, but not <1 year earlier. Discussion includes the possible role of social constraints in traumatic grief trajectories and care provider recommendations.