title: Features of isolated sleep paralysis among Nigerians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is paucity of studies on isolated sleep paralysis (ISP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationship of variables for ISP sufferers, and clarify factors predictive of ISP health behaviour (IHB--doing something to prevent further attacks).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  General population.
  
  
  METHODS
  24-item ISP questionnaire completed by respondents.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and ten (38.2%m, aged 30.9 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ISP frequency in the lifetime, past year and past month, were respectively, 6.7, 2.02, and 0.5; average duration of episodes was four minutes, and 63.6% experienced it while awakening from sleep. Using ICSD criteria, 2.7% had severe experience (i.e. at least once per week), 18.2% moderately severe (once per month) and 75.5% mildly severe (less than once per month), with no significant demographic associations. 56.4% were afraid of the experience, 76.4% had little/no worries that something was seriously wrong with their bodies; 39.1% cited supernatural causes, 35.5% cited physiological/psychosocial causes; and 44.5% described a hallucinatory experience. 1.8% took medical measures, and 7.3% consulted a faith healer; 44.5% resorted to prayers and 41.8% did nothing to prevent further attacks. The primary determinant of IHB was being afraid of ISP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings have public mental health education, treatment and research implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Ohaeri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awadalla
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Makanjuola
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ohaeri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D020188:Sleep Paralysis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires