Between sleep and wakefulness: how sleep quality and stress affect isolated sleep paralysis – a cross-sectional survey

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience Pub Date : 2025-06-30 DOI:10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111435

Ahmed Ali Khan , Ammara Abid , Maheen Nawaz , Muhammad Shaheer Bin Faheem , Zahra Ali Haque , Rayyan Mohammad Makki Bakhsh , Areeba Ashfaq , Fnu Raja

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background and objectives

Sleep paralysis (SP) is a rapid-eye movement (REM) parasomnia in which a person is alert but temporarily unable to move or speak during the transition between wakefulness and sleep. It is a cardinal feature of narcolepsy; however, it may also occur independently as isolated sleep paralysis (ISP). This study examines ISP’s prevalence, sociodemographic variations, and contributing factors, particularly the impact of poor sleep quality and stress.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among shopping mall visitors using the Unusual Sleep Experiences Questionnaire (USEQ) to assess ISP episodes. Participants also provided data on sleep quality and stress levels to identify potential ISP predictors.

Results

Data from 336 participants was analyzed (mean age: 25.6 ± 9.45; 54.8 % females). 123 (36.6 %) participants reported experiencing ISP episodes at least once in their lifetime with the average age of episode onset being 17.9 ± 5.22 years. Poor sleep quality significantly influenced ISP frequency (p < 0.0001). Moderate stress levels were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of ISP (p = 0.028). Logistic regression models showed that sleep quality and stress accounted for 11.6 % and 5.70 % of the variance in ISP prevalence.

Conclusion

ISP is common among the non-narcoleptic population. Poor sleep quality and stress are significantly associated with increased ISP frequency; however, their limited predictive value suggests the involvement of other contributing factors. Longitudinal research is needed to confirm the causal relationship between these factors and ISP, and to develop effective interventions aimed at lowering frequency of ISP episodes.

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在睡眠和清醒之间：睡眠质量和压力如何影响孤立性睡眠瘫痪——一项横断面调查

背景和目的睡眠麻痹症（SP）是一种快速眼动（REM）睡眠异常症，患者在清醒和睡眠之间的过渡期间处于警觉状态，但暂时无法移动或说话。这是嗜睡症的主要特征；然而，它也可能以孤立性睡眠麻痹（ISP）的形式独立发生。本研究考察了ISP的患病率、社会人口变化和影响因素，特别是睡眠质量差和压力的影响。方法采用不寻常睡眠体验问卷（USEQ）对购物中心访客进行横断面调查，评估其ISP发作情况。参与者还提供了睡眠质量和压力水平的数据，以确定潜在的ISP预测因素。结果336名参与者的数据被分析(平均年龄：25.6±9.45；54.8%为女性)。123名（36.6%）参与者报告在其一生中至少经历过一次ISP发作，平均发作年龄为17.9±5.22岁。睡眠质量差显著影响ISP频率(p <；0.0001)。中等压力水平与ISP患病率显著相关（p = 0.028）。Logistic回归模型显示，睡眠质量和压力分别占ISP患病率方差的11.6%和5.70%。结论isp在非发作性睡人群中较为常见。睡眠质量差和压力与ISP频率增加显著相关；然而，它们有限的预测价值暗示了其他因素的参与。需要进行纵向研究，以确认这些因素与ISP之间的因果关系，并制定有效的干预措施，旨在降低ISP发作的频率。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

0.00%

发文量

402

审稿时长

40 days

期刊介绍： This International journal, Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, publishes articles on clinical neurosurgery and neurology and the related neurosciences such as neuro-pathology, neuro-radiology, neuro-ophthalmology and neuro-physiology. The journal has a broad International perspective, and emphasises the advances occurring in Asia, the Pacific Rim region, Europe and North America. The Journal acts as a focus for publication of major clinical and laboratory research, as well as publishing solicited manuscripts on specific subjects from experts, case reports and other information of interest to clinicians working in the clinical neurosciences.