Sleep Paralysis: An Overlooked Phenomenon

Abstract

Dear Sir,
‘There is a time for many words, and there is also a time
for sleep’ Homer, the Odyssey. A recent systemic review of
an aggregated data from 35 empirical studies (N=36,533
subjects) found that 7.6% of the general population
experienced at least one Sleep paralysis episode over the
course of their life. Higher lifetime prevalence rates were
found in students (28.3%) and psychiatric patients (31.9%)1.
Sleep paralysis is a commonly attributed state characterized
by the inability to move either at the onset of sleep or upon
awakening accompanied by hypnagogic experiences which
are visual, auditory and sensory hallucinations2. It can occur
as an isolated, familial or tetrad of narcolepsy. If it occurs
while you are falling asleep, it is called hypnagogic or
predormital sleep paralysis. If it happens as you are waking
up, its called hypnopompic or postdormital sleep paralysis.
Sleep paralysis has been estimated to effect approximately
1.7% to 40% of general population with victims
predominantly students3. It typically peaks at the thirties
and appears to be associated with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), narcolepsy and panic attacks. Other major
contributing factors include sleep deprivation, fatigue and
stress. Alarming symptoms of Sleep Paralysis include feeling
paralyzed, hear deafening buzzing sounds, feel electrical
sensations shooting throughout the body.