[Prevalence and phenomenology of sleep paralysis in medical students]

To examine the prevalence and phenomenological manifestations of sleep paralysis among medical students.

A total of 499 senior medical students were surveyed. The mean age of the participants was 22.64±2.3 years; 71.34% were female. The Unusual Sleep Experiences Questionnaire (USEQ) was used.

Sleep paralysis (SP) is prevalent among medical students. A total of 169 (33.9%) students reported experiencing an inability to move during sleep onset or upon awakening. The prevalence was similar among male and female students. Additionally, 46 students (27.2%) reported a family history of SP. The initial occurrence of SP was reported before age 18 by 119 (70.4%) students, while 50 (29.6%) students experienced their first episode between ages 20 and 25. SP events were frequently accompanied by sensations such as flying, out-of-body experiences, and erotic feelings. During these episodes, 59 (34.9%) students reported chest pressure, and 35 (20.7%) experienced a sensation of suffocation. Visual hallucinations were reported by 74 (43.8%) students, including perceptions of shadows, figures, or a creature sitting on the chest. Auditory hallucinations, such as hearing unusual sounds or footsteps, were noted by 59 (34.9%) students. Olfactory hallucinations, involving the perception of unusual odors, were reported by 6 (3.6%) students. Throughout their lifetimes, 138 (81.7%) students experienced SP sporadically, classified as isolated SP, with a prevalence of 27.7% among all survey participants (n=499). Recurrent episodes of SP were reported by 31 (18.3%) students, often accompanied by sensations of presence, hallucinations, chest pressure, suffocation, and fear of death or insanity. Clinically significant episodes were indicative of recurrent isolated SP and observed in 23 (13.6%) females and 8 (4.7%) males. The overall prevalence of recurrent isolated SP among all students was 6.2%.

SP is a common sleep disorder among medical students, with similar rates in both males and females. Recurrent clinically significant episodes facilitate the identification of recurrent isolated SP, which is more frequent in females. Patients with SP should receive information regarding the nature of the disorder and be encouraged to seek medical and psychological support. It is essential for pediatricians to recognize these sleep disorders, and clinicians should avoid misdiagnosing mental disorders in patients presenting with parasomnia.