Prevalence and correlates of sleep paralysis in adults reporting childhood sexual abuse.
Murray P. Abrams, Ashlee D Mulligan, R Nicholas Carleton, Gordon J. G. Asmundson
Journal of Anxiety Disorders March 13, 2008 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2008.03.007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 263 |
| Population | Adults categorized by self-reported childhood sexual abuse history |
| Keywords | Humans Hallucinations Sleep paralysis Prevalence Chi-square distribution Control groups Emotions Life change events Stress disorders, post-traumatic Personality inventory Psychometrics Models, psychological Child abuse, sexual Adult Middle aged Survivors Canada Female Surveys and questionnaires |
| Key findings | Participants reporting childhood sexual abuse reported more frequent and more distressing sleep paralysis episodes than those reporting no such history. Post hoc analyses indicated that participants with clinically significant post-traumatic symptoms, irrespective of childhood sexual abuse history, also reported more frequent and more distressing sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis indices correlated with measures of post-traumatic symptoms, depression, dissociation, and absorption. |
Abstract
Sleep paralysis (SP) occurs when rapid eye movement (REM) activity and concomitant paralysis of the skeletal muscles persist as an individual awakens and becomes conscious of his/her surroundings. SP is often accompanied by frightening hallucinations that some researchers suggest may be confounded with memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA; [McNally, R. J., & Clancy, S. A. (2005). Sleep paralysis in adults reporting repressed, recovered, or continuous memories of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 19, 595-602]). The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between CSA and SP. Based on self-report, participants (n=263) were categorized into three CSA groups: confirmed, unconfirmed, or no history of CSA. Relative to participants reporting no CSA history, those reporting CSA reported more frequent and more distressing episodes of SP. Post hoc analyses revealed that participants with clinically significant post-traumatic symptoms (irrespective of CSA history) also reported more frequent and more distressing episodes of SP. Significant correlations were found among SP indices and measures of post-traumatic symptoms, depression, dissociation, and absorption. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
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Cites 12
- 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 and recovered memories of sexual abuse: comment on McNally and Clancy (2005). Journal of Anxiety Disorders July 20, 2005
- Sleep Paralysis as Spiritual Experience Transcultural Psychiatry March 1, 2005
- Sleep paralysis in adults reporting repressed, recovered, or continuous memories of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Anxiety Disorders 2005
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