Isolated Sleep Paralysis: Fear, Prevention, and Disruption.
Brian Andrew Sharpless, Jessica Lynn Grom
Behavioral Sleep Medicine 2016 DOI: 10.1080/15402002.2014.963583 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Clinical interview study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 156 |
| Population | Undergraduates assessed for lifetime isolated sleep paralysis |
| Key points | Among 156 undergraduates, 75.64% of those with isolated sleep paralysis experienced fear during episodes and 15.38% reported clinically significant distress or interference. Prevention attempts were made by 19.23%, with 79.31% of those believing their methods succeeded; 69.29% attempted disruption, but only 54.12% reported it effective. The authors propose that encouraging these techniques and better symptom monitoring may help manage problematic ISP. |
Abstract
Relatively little is known about isolated sleep paralysis (ISP), and no empirically supported treatments are available. This study aims to determine: the clinical impact of ISP, the techniques used to prevent or disrupt ISP, and the effectiveness of these techniques. 156 undergraduates were assessed with lifetime ISP using a clinical interview. 75.64% experienced fear during ISP, and 15.38% experienced clinically significant distress/interference, while 19.23% attempted to prevent ISP, and 79.31% of these believed their methods were successful. Regarding disruption, 69.29% made attempts, but only 54.12% reported them effective. Disruption was more common than prevention, but several techniques were useful. Encouraging individuals to utilize these techniques and better monitor their symptoms may be an effective way to manage problematic ISP.
Citations in the library
Cited by 20
- Could sleep paralysis be pleasant? Journal of Sleep Research June 1, 2021
- Meditation-Relaxation (MR Therapy) for Sleep Paralysis: A Pilot Study in Patients With Narcolepsy. Frontiers in Neurology 2020
- 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
- Associations between sleep variables and ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs: A scoping review. British Journal of Psychology November 1, 2023
and 15 more in the library
Cites 8
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- Rates of isolated sleep paralysis in outpatients with anxiety disorders. Journal of Anxiety Disorders 2006
and 3 more in the library