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Waters F, Ling I, Azimi S, Blom JD. Sleep-Related Hallucinations. Sleep Med Clin 2024; 19:143-157. [PMID: 38368061 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The diagnostic category of sleep-related hallucinations (SRH) replaces the previous category of Terrifying Hypnagogic Hallucinations in the 2001 edition of International Classification of Sleep Disorders-R. Hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations (HHH) that occur in the absence of other symptoms or disorder and, within the limits of normal sleep, are most likely non-pathological. By contrast, complex nocturnal visual hallucinations (CNVH) may reflect a dimension of psychopathology reflecting different combinations of etiologic influences. The identification and conceptualization of CNVH is relatively new, and more research is needed to clarify whether CNVH share common mechanisms with HHH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavie Waters
- Clinical Research Centre, Graylands Hospital, North Metropolitan Health Service Mental Health, Brockway Road, John XXIII Avenue, Mount Claremont, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia; School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Ivan Ling
- West Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Perth, Australia; Department of Pulmonary Physiology & Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 5th Floor, G-block, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Somayyeh Azimi
- Clinical Research Centre, Graylands Hospital, North Metropolitan Health Service Mental Health, Brockway Road, John XXIII Avenue, Mount Claremont, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia; School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jan Dirk Blom
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Kiwistraat 43, The Hague 2552 DH, the Netherlands; Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Hefnawy MT, Amer BE, Amer SA, Moghib K, Khlidj Y, Elfakharany B, Mouffokes A, Alazzeh ZJ, Soni NP, Wael M, Elsayed ME. Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Sleeping Paralysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus 2024; 16:e53212. [PMID: 38425633 PMCID: PMC10902800 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a mixed state of consciousness and sleep, combining features of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep with those of wakefulness. The exact cause of SP is unknown, and its prevalence varies among the studies. We aim to identify SP's global prevalence, the affected population's characteristics, and the SP's clinical picture. We searched three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS)) using a unique search strategy to identify eligible studies. All observational studies identifying the prevalence or frequency of sleeping paralysis were included. No exclusions are made based on country, race, or questionnaire. The analysis was performed using the latest version of R software (R Core Team, Vienna, Austria). The analysis included 76 studies from 25 countries with 167,133 participants. The global prevalence of SP was 30% (95% CI (22%, 39%)). There were similar frequencies of isolated SP and SP (33%, 95% CI (26%, 42%), I2 = 97%, P <0.01; 31%, 95% CI (21%, 43%), I2 = 100%, P = 0, respectively). A subgroup analysis showed that the majority of those who experienced SP were psychiatric patients (35%, 95% CI (20%, 55%), I2 = 96%, P <0.01). The prevalence among non-psychiatric patients was among students (34%, 95% CI (23%, 47%), I2 = 100%, P = 0). Auditory and visual hallucinations were reported in 24.25% of patients. Around 4% had only visual hallucinations. Meta-regression showed no association between the frequency of SP and sex. Publication bias was detected among the included studies through visual inspection of funnel plot asymmetry. Our findings revealed that 30% of the population suffered from SP, especially psychiatric patients and students. The majority of SP cases lacked associated hallucinations, while a noteworthy proportion experienced combined visual and auditory hallucinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud T Hefnawy
- Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EGY
- Medical Research Group of Egypt Branch, Negida Academy, Arlington, USA
| | - Basma E Amer
- Faculty of Medicine, Banha University, Banha, EGY
- Medical Research Group of Egypt Branch, Negida Academy, Arlington, USA
| | - Samar A Amer
- Family Medicine, Royal College of General Practice, London, GBR
- Faculty of Public Health and Community Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EGY
| | | | - Yehya Khlidj
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Algiers Benyoucef Benkhedda, Algiers, DZA
| | - Bahaa Elfakharany
- Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Pharos University, Alexandria, EGY
- Medical Research Group of Egypt Branch, Negida Academy, Arlington, USA
| | - Adel Mouffokes
- Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Oran, DZA
| | - Zainab J Alazzeh
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordanian University of Science and Technology, Ar-Ramtha, JOR
| | - Nishant P Soni
- Medicine, Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society Medical College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, IND
| | - Muhannad Wael
- Urology, Saint Joseph Hospital, Jerusalem, PSE
- Faculty of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, PSE
| | - Mohamed E Elsayed
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, DEU
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Blom JD, van Veen RJB, van Rooijen EHC, Slotema CW. The Diagnostic Spectrum of Sexual Hallucinations. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2024; 32:1-14. [PMID: 38181099 DOI: 10.1097/hrp.0000000000000388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Sexual hallucinations are little known, yet often extremely burdening, phenomena. In this systematic review, we summarize what is known about their phenomenology, prevalence, etiopathology, ensuing distress, and treatment options. Sexual hallucinations can be experienced as genital or orgasmic sensations, although other sensory modalities can also be involved. With the notable exception of orgasmic auras in the context of epilepsy, sexual hallucinations tend to be distressing and embarrassing in nature. Our analysis of 79 studies (together describing 390 patients) indicates that sexual hallucinations are more frequent in women than in men, with a sex ratio of 1.4:1, and that they are most prevalent in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, with rates ranging from 1.4% in recently admitted patients to 44% in chronically hospitalized patients. Other underlying conditions include epilepsy, the incubus phenomenon (possibly the most prevalent cause in the general population, associated with sleep paralysis), narcolepsy, and sedative use. As regards the sedative context, we found more medicolegal than purely medical cases, which sadly underlines that not all sexually explicit sensations experienced in anesthesia practice are indeed hallucinations. In the absence of evidence-based treatment protocols for sexual hallucinations, practice-based guidelines tend to focus on the underlying condition. Further research is needed, especially in the fields of substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder, where only anecdotal information on sexual hallucinations is available. Moreover, awareness of sexual hallucinations among health professionals needs to be improved in order to facilitate counseling, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Dirk Blom
- From the Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, the Netherlands; Institute of Psychology, Leiden University (Dr. Blom); Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands (Dr. Blom); Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam (Dr. Slotema)
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