Effects Of Sleep Paralysis On Human Psychology

Sleep paralysis is a state of consciousness experienced while waking from sleep or falling asleep. It is characterized by an experience of being unable to move for several seconds or minutes. Sleep paralysis entails a period of paralysis upon waking or falling asleep and is often accompanied by terrifying hallucinations. Many stressful environmental factors which cause emotional stress also induce sleep paralysis. In addition to stressful environmental factors being associated with the condition, there appears to be a dominant genetic factor associated with the predisposition for developing sleep paralysis. The implications of these findings for stress, anxiety, and sleep are discussed. Almost three hundred people from various age groups of Karachi city were targeted as the respondents. A multifactor questionnaire was constructed to measure the effects of sleep paralysis – independent variable, and the human psychology – dependent variable. Regression analysis was performed and proposed two models using SPSS. The results of statistical tests were concluded in a way that how sleep paralysis effects a person’s life. The final results showed the effects of sleep paralysis on one’s psychology and personal life.

Effects Of Sleep Paralysis On Human Psychology

Sleep paralysis is a state of consciousness experienced while waking from sleep or falling asleep. It is characterized by an experience of being unable to move for several seconds or minutes. Sleep paralysis entails a period of paralysis upon waking or falling asleep and is often accompanied by terrifying hallucinations. Many stressful environmental factors which cause emotional stress also induce sleep paralysis. In addition to stressful environmental factors being associated with the condition, there appears to be a dominant genetic factor associated with the predisposition for developing sleep paralysis. The implications of these findings for stress, anxiety, and sleep are discussed. Almost three hundred people from various age groups of Karachi city were targeted as the respondents. A multifactor questionnaire was constructed to measure the effects of sleep paralysis – independent variable, and the human psychology – dependent variable. Regression analysis was performed and proposed two models using SPSS. The results of statistical tests were concluded in a way that how sleep paralysis effects a person’s life. The final results showed the effects of sleep paralysis on one’s psychology and personal life.

Treatment of narcolepsy: A rare disease of unknown etiology

Background: Narcolepsy, also known as Gélineau syndrome, is a chronic and neurological disease that affects 0.05% of the European population, though that percentage could be higher due to the diagnostic difficulties. The main symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness, although it may be accompanied by cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations. Objective: Nowadays, there is no cure for narcolepsy and the treatment is symptomatic: psychostimulants for the sleepiness by means of amphetamines, methylphenidate or modafinil, and antidepressants and sodium oxybate for treating cataplexy. Method: This is a short review regarding pharmacotherapy for narcolepsy. Result: Hypocretins were discovered in 1998. They are neuropeptides whose deficit is responsible for this symptomatology, has opened up a new field of investigation. Conclusion: Agonists of hypocretins could be a promising therapy against this disease.

Sleep Paralysis among Professional Firefighters and a Possible Association with PTSD—Online Survey-Based Study

The prevalence of sleep paralysis (SP) is estimated at approximately 7.6% of the world’s general population. One of the strongest factors in the onset of SP is PTSD, which is often found among professional firefighters. Our study aimed to assess in the professional firefighter population (n = 831) (1) the prevalence of SP, (2) the relationship between SP and PTSD and (3) the relationship between SP and other factors: the severity of the stress felt, individual tendency to feel anxious and worried and lifestyle variables. The incidence of SP in the study group was 8.7%. The high probability of PTSD was found in 15.04% of subjects and its presence was associated with 1.86 times the odds of developing SP [OR = 1.86 (95% CI: 1.04–3.33); p = 0.04]. Officers who experienced at least 1 SP during their lifetime had significantly higher results in the scales: PCL-5, STAI-T, PSWQ. The number of SP episodes was positively correlated with the severity of symptoms measured by the PCL-5, PSS-10, STAI and PSWQ questionnaires. Further research is needed to assess the importance of SP among the firefighter population in the context of mental and somatic health and to specify methods of preventing SP episodes.

The Psychoanalysis of Sleep-Paralysis – Perspectives on Oneirology

Dream is the reflection of our unconscious mind when we are in deep slumber. The duration of dream varies from 14 sec - 40sec and are characterized by Rapid Eye Movement (REM). Dreams occur in the transition period from light sleep to deep sleep or from deep sleep to light sleep. The associated study of dreams is known as Oneirology. It is sometimes associated by physical bodily movement

Objective REM sleep characteristics of recurrent isolated sleep paralysis: a case-control study

Study Objectives Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis (RISP) is a rapid eye movement (REM) parasomnia characterized by a dissociative state with characteristics of REM sleep and wakefulness. Pathophysiology has not yet been clarified and very little research has been performed using objective polysomnographic measures with inconsistent results. The main aim of our study was to find whether higher REM sleep fragmentation is consistent with the theory of state dissociation or whether signs of dissociation can be detected by spectral analysis. Methods Nineteen participants in the RISP group and 19 age- and gender-matched participants in the control group underwent two consecutive full-night video-polysomnography recordings with 19-channel electroencephalography. Apart from sleep macrostructure, other REM sleep characteristics such as REM arousal index, percentage of wakefulness and stage shifts within REM sleep period were analyzed, as well as power spectral analysis during REM sleep. Results No difference was found in the macrostructural parameters of REM sleep (percentage of REM sleep and REM latency). Similarly, no significant difference was detected in REM sleep fragmentation (assessed by REM sleep arousal index, percentage of wakefulness and stage shifts within REM sleep). Power spectral analysis showed higher bifrontal beta activity in the RISP group during REM sleep. Conclusions The results showed an underlying persistent trait of higher cortical activity that may predispose patients with SP to be more likely to experience recurrent episodes, without any apparent macrostructural features including higher REM sleep fragmentation.