Characteristics of Sleep Paralysis and Its Association with Anxiety Symptoms, Perceived Stress, PTSD, and Other Variables Related to Lifestyle in Selected High Stress Exposed Professions

Abstract

Sleep paralysis (SP) is a hypnagogic or hypnopompic state associated with the inability to move while conscious. Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis (RISP) is a type of REM parasomnia. Individuals experiencing anxiety disorders, PTSD, exposure to chronic stress, or shift work are at risk of developing this sleep disorder. This study aimed to assess: (1) the prevalence, frequency, and symptomatology of SP, and (2) the impact of the severity of anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, and lifestyle mode variables on the frequency and severity of SP in four professional groups at high risk of SP (n = 844): nurses and midwives (n = 172), policemen (n = 174), teachers (n = 107), and a group of mixed professions—“other professions” (n = 391). The study used a battery of online questionnaires: the Sociodemographic and Health Status Questionnaire, the SP-EPQ, the PCL -5, the STAI-T, the PSWQ and the PSS-10. The prevalence of SP was the lowest among policemen (15.5%) and the highest in the group of “other professions” (39.4%). The association of SP with symptoms of PTSD and anxiety was confirmed in the group of nurses and “other professions”. Among other factors modulating the incidence and severity of SP were: age, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, and perceived stress. This study indicates that there exist links between SP and psychological and lifestyle factors, suggesting a complex etiology for this sleep disorder. Due to the high prevalence of SP in the studied groups of occupations, further research is necessary to develop preventive and therapeutic methods for SP.

All-night spectral and microstate EEG analysis in patients with recurrent isolated sleep paralysis

“…Rather than analyzing actual RISP episodes, our emphasis was on quantitatively comparing the sleep of RISP patients with healthy subjects. In current literature Stefani and Högl ( 2021 ) and Wròbel-Knybel et al ( 2022 ), RISP has mostly been associated with REM sleep, however, the precise mechanism underlying this disorder is unknown. Compared to other studies Klikovà et al ( 2021 ) and Stefani and Högl ( 2021 ) focusing primarily on REM sleep, we targeted the NREM sleep stages using multiple analysis methods on a unique dataset obtained with strict entry criteria.…”

All-night spectral and microstate EEG analysis in patients with Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis (RISP)

“…In this study, we present an analysis of EEG sleep parameters of patients diagnosed with RISP. In current literature [6,42], RISP has mostly been associated with REM sleep, however, the precise mechanism underlying this disorder is unknown. Compared to other studies [6,13] focusing primarily on REM sleep, we targeted the NREM sleep stages using multiple analysis methods on a unique dataset obtained with strict entry criteria.…”

A Dynamic Foundation: Aberrations of Sleep Architecture and Its Association With Clinical and Sub-clinical Psychopathology

“…These experiences are commonly associated with heightened fear or a fear of imminent mortality [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]. SP can occur independently, termed as isolated sleep paralysis (ISP), or as a manifestation of other medical conditions, such as narcolepsy and seizure disorders [ 10 ]. When episodes of ISP recur, they are classified as a distinct diagnostic sleep-wake disorder known as recurrent isolated sleep paralysis (RISP), falling under the category of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase parasomnia [ 11 ].…”