Associations between exploding head syndrome and measures of sleep quality and experiences, dissociation, and well-being
Dan Denis, Giulia Poerio, Sarah Derveeuw, Isabella Badini, Alice M. Gregory
Sleep December 13, 2018 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsy216 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,882 |
| Population | Female undergraduate students and international participants aged 18-82 |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Parasomnia Wakefulness Logistic regression Insomnia Sleep paralysis Univariate analysis Audiology Clinical psychology Sleep disorder Electroencephalography Multivariate analysis Cataplexy |
| Citations | 25 |
| Registration | NCT03062891 |
| Key findings | Insomnia symptoms and sleep paralysis frequency are significantly associated with exploding head syndrome across two independent samples. |
Abstract
Exploding head syndrome is a sensory parasomnia characterized by the perception of loud noises and/or a sense of explosion in the head that occurs when transitioning to or from sleep. Despite receiving little attention from both researchers and clinicians, studies suggest that approximately 10%-15% of individuals have episodes, with significant levels of fear occurring in a subset of cases. Using two independent samples, we examine sleep and well-being variables associated with exploding head syndrome. We focused on insomnia symptoms, life stress, anxiety and depression symptoms, and sleep experiences such as sleep paralysis as potential factors associated with exploding head syndrome. Study 1 consisted of 199 female undergraduate students. We found a lifetime prevalence of 37.19%, with 6.54% experiencing at least one episode a month. All variables were associated with exploding head syndrome in univariate analyses, but only insomnia symptoms and sleep paralysis frequency were significantly associated with exploding head syndrome in multiple logistic regression models. Study 2 was an international sample of 1683 participants (age range 18-82, 53.00% female). Lifetime prevalence was 29.59%, with monthly episodes occurring in 3.89% of participants. The same set of variables was investigated as in Study 1, with dissociative experiences during wakefulness and a larger range of sleep experiences also included. Study 2 replicated the results of Study 1. In addition, dissociative experiences during wakefulness and other sleep experiences such as nightmares were associated with exploding head syndrome in multiple logistic regression models. These studies provide valuable first insights into variables associated with exploding head syndrome.Clinical trial information: Study 1 constitutes a planned exploratory outcome of a pilot feasibility study conducted to provide information useful for designing a clinical trial: Name: STOP-pilot. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03062891?term=NCT03062891&rank=1, Registration: NCT03062891.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 985 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use | 2002 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 282 |
| 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. Adults who used 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 362 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Associations between self‐reported parasomnias and psychiatric illness in 370,000 patients with sleep disorders Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences August 30, 2024
- The associations between paranormal beliefs and sleep variables. Journal of Sleep Research August 1, 2023
- Prevalence of different parasomnias in the general Norwegian population, and their association with insomnia, anxiety, and depression. A cross-sectional web-panel survey Frontiers in Sleep April 23, 2026
- Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders Reconsidered: Beyond Sociocognitive and Trauma Models Toward a Transtheoretical Framework. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology February 28, 2022
Cites 10
- A systematic review of variables associated with sleep paralysis Sleep Medicine Reviews June 8, 2017
- 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
- Relationships between sleep paralysis and sleep quality: current insights. Nature and Science of Sleep 2018
- Arousal in Nocturnal Consciousness: How Dream- and Sleep-Experiences May Inform Us of Poor Sleep Quality, Stress, and Psychopathology. Frontiers in Psychology May 10, 2017
- Tracking Potentiating States of Dissociation: An Intensive Clinical Case Study of Sleep, Daydreaming, Mood, and Depersonalization/Derealization. Frontiers in Psychology August 17, 2016
and 5 more in the library