The assessment of the phenomenology of sleep paralysis: the Unusual Sleep Experiences Questionnaire (USEQ).
Cheryl M. Paradis, Steven A. Friedman, Devon E Hinton, Richard J McNally, Linda Z Solomon, Kelly A Lyons
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2009.00098.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 208 |
| Population | College students |
| Measures | Unusual Sleep Experiences Questionnaire (USEQ) |
| Topics | Anxiety Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Humans Sleep paralysis Cross-cultural comparison Students Adolescent Middle aged Female Young adult Surveys and questionnaires |
| Key points | About one quarter of 208 college students reported at least one lifetime episode of sleep paralysis, and sleep paralysis was associated with anxiety, particularly panic attacks, consistent with previous research. The authors report that the Unusual Sleep Experiences Questionnaire was easily understood by participants. |
Abstract
Previous research has found a relationship between sleep paralysis (SP) and anxiety states and higher rates have been reported among certain ethnic groups. To advance the cross-cultural study of SP, we developed a brief assessment instrument (which can be self-administered), the Unusual Sleep Experiences Questionnaire (USEQ). In this article, we report on a pilot study with the USEQ in a sample of 208 college students. The instrument was easily understood by the participants, with one quarter reporting at least one lifetime episode of SP. As in previous studies, SP was associated with anxiety (in particular, panic attacks).
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Citations in the library
Cited by 29
- A systematic review of variables associated with sleep paralysis Sleep Medicine Reviews June 8, 2017
- Benefits and concerns of seeking and experiencing lucid dreams: benefits are tied to successful induction and dream control. SLEEP Advances 2022
- Prevalence Rates of the Incubus Phenomenon: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Frontiers in Psychiatry November 23, 2017
- Risk factors of sleep paralysis in a population of Polish students. BMC Psychiatry June 7, 2022
- Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Sleeping Paralysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus 2024
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Cites 16
- Risk factors for isolated sleep paralysis in an African American sample: a preliminary study. Behavior Therapy December 2008
- Rates of isolated sleep paralysis in outpatients with anxiety disorders. Journal of Anxiety Disorders 2006
- Sleep paralysis episode frequency and number, types, and structure of associated hallucinations Journal of Sleep Research September 1, 2005
- Sleep Paralysis in African Americans with Panic Disorder Transcultural Psychiatry March 1, 2005
- 'The ghost pushes you down': sleep paralysis-type panic attacks in a Khmer refugee population. Transcultural Psychiatry March 1, 2005
and 11 more in the library