0964 Sleep Paralysis and Hypnogogic/Hypnopompic Hallucinations: Prevalence in Student Athletes and Relationship to Depressive Symptoms
S. Liu, A. Athey, William D. S. Killgore, J. Gehrels, P. Alfonso-Miller, Michael A. Grandner
April 27, 2018 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsy061.963 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional observational study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 189 |
| Population | NCAA Division-I student athletes |
| Measures | Insomnia Severity Index, Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale |
| Key findings | Sleep paralysis and hypnogogic/hypnopompic hallucinations were reported by 25% and 35% of student athletes respectively. Both symptoms were associated with higher depression scores in age-sex adjusted models (sleep paralysis Rarely: B=4.6, Often: B=5.8; hallucinations Rarely: B=5.1, Often: B=6.5), and these associations remained significant after adjusting for insomnia and sleep duration. |
Abstract
Student athletes are known to demonstrate high rates of common sleep symptoms. Less common sleep symptoms that are more prevalent in younger adults, such as sleep paralysis and hypnogogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, have not been studied. In particular, their role in mental health, independent of insufficient sleep duration or insomnia, has not been evaluated in this group. Data were collected from N=189 NCAA Division-I student athletes. They were asked how often they experienced the following: “When I am first awakening, I feel like I can’t move” (sleep paralysis) and “When falling asleep or waking up, I experience scary, dream-like images” (hypnogogic/hypnopompic hallucinations). These were coded as “Never,” “Rarely (≤1/month)” or “Often” (≥1/week)They were also asked about sleep duration and administered the Insomnia Severity Index and the Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Regression analyses examined depression score as outcome and sleep symptom as predictor in models adjusted for age and sex, as well as age, sex, insomnia severity, and sleep duration. Sleep paralysis “Rarely” was reported by 18% of the sample and “Often” was reported by 7%. Hypnogogic/hypnopompic hallucinations “Rarely” was reported by 24% of the sample and “Often” was reported by 11%. In age-sex adjusted models, compared to “Never,” sleep paralysis “Rarely” and “Often” were associated with higher depression score (Rarely: B=4.6, 95%CI[1.9,7.3], p=0.001; Often: B=5.8, 95%CI[1.8,9.8], p=0.004). Similarly, hypnogogic/hypnopompic hallucinations “Rarely” and “Often” were associated with higher depression score (Rarely: B=5.1, 95%CI[2.7,7.6], p<0.0001; Often: B=6.5, 95%CI[3.2,9.9], p<0.0001). In models adjusted for insomnia and sleep duration, all relationships were attenuated but remained significant. Sleep paralysis and hypnogogic/hypnopompic hallucinations are prevalent in student athletes and are independently associated with depression symptoms. NCAA Innovations Grant.