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

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Wróbel-Knybel, Paulina 
Rog, Joanna 
Jalal, Baland 
Karakuła-Juchnowicz, Hanna  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5971-795X

Abstract

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.

Description

Keywords

PTSD, anxiety, anxiety disorder, firefighters, parasomnias, sleep disorders, sleep paralysis, stress, Anxiety, Firefighters, Humans, Sleep Paralysis, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Surveys and Questionnaires

Journal Title

Int J Environ Res Public Health

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1661-7827
1660-4601

Volume Title

18

Publisher

MDPI AG