Association of Sleep paralysis with Insomnia and Sleep Quality

Background: Sleep paralysis, accompanied by hypnopompic and hypnogagic hallucinations is commonly occurring phenomenon affecting number of individuals and it is found to be usually associated with sleeplessness and poor sleeping habits and quality. Aims: To obtain an association between sleep paralysis and insomnia and sleep quality. Methods: This was a cross sectional examination led on medical undergraduates in a local medical college of Pakistan. A survey containing segment data, a sleep paralysis related questionnaire, a scale for insomnia; Insomnia Severity Index and a scale for sleep quality; Pittsberg Sleep Quality Index was completed by 100 participants. Results: Positive association was found between sleep paralysis and Insomnia and sleep quality with p=-0.11 and d=0.247, p<0.001 and=- 0.417 respectively. Medical undergraduates have high prevalence (52.8%) of sleep paralysis. Also, the high rate of occurrence among the females than males and higher rates in adolescents are particularly of concern. Conclusion: There is a positive association between frequency of occurrence of sleep paralysis and insomnia and sleep quality. Better sleep schedules, enhancement of sleep quality with possible eradication of insomnia should be done in order to prevent terrible experience of sleep paralysis.