Sleep paralysis: A brief clinical review

Sleep paralysis is a frightening event where a person awakens conscious but unable to move because the muscle paralysis of rapid eye movement sleep persists, often accompanied by vivid hallucinations. When it occurs without narcolepsy or other medical conditions, it is called isolated sleep paralysis. Although rare in clinical practice, the condition is underdetected due to its unusual nature and lack of training in medical residency and graduate education. This review examines prevalence, risk factors, diagnosis, and management, which includes both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. The authors note these treatments need clearer guidelines, more empirical support, and larger randomized controlled trials.

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Abstract

This brief clinical review summarizes the literature on sleep paralysis most relevant to clinicians. Sleep paralysis is a condition where the sufferer awakens to rapid eye movement sleep based atonia, combined with conscious awareness. This is a frightening event accompanied by vivid, waking dreams and hallucinations. Sleep paralysis occurring independent of narcolepsy and other medical conditions is termed isolated sleep paralysis. Though rare in clinical practice, the unusual nature of the condition and a lack of training during medical residency and graduate education leads to fewer cases being detected. This paper looks at the prevalence, risk factors, diagnosis and management of sleep paralysis. The management consists of both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions that need clear guidelines, empirical support and larger randomized controlled trials. Keywords: Sleep, Sleep paralysis, Isolated sleep paralysis.