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Sleep paralysis and trauma, psychiatric symptoms and disorders in an adult African American population attending primary medical care
Author(s) -
Mellman Thomas A.,
Aigbogun Notalelomwan,
Graves Ruth Elaine,
Lawson William B.,
Alim Tanya N.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.20311
Subject(s) - psychiatry , anxiety , medicine , depression (economics) , population , sleep paralysis , panic disorder , panic , generalized anxiety disorder , clinical psychology , sleep disorder , cataplexy , insomnia , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
The occurrence of sleep paralysis (SP) absent narcolepsy appears to not be uncommon in African Americans and probably other non‐European groups. Prior research has linked SP to trauma and psychiatric disorders and suggested a specific relationship to panic disorder in African Americans. The objective of our study was to evaluate relationships of SP with trauma, concurrent psychiatric symptoms and lifetime psychiatric diagnoses in an adult African American population recruited from primary care. Cross sectional study with surveys and diagnostic interviews; Patients attending primary care clinics filled out a survey that determined the 6 month prevalence and associated features of SP, a panic disorder screen, the self‐rated Hamilton Depression Scale, and an inventory of trauma exposure. A subset of trauma‐exposed participants ( N = 142) received comprehensive diagnostic interviews that incorporated the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV and the Clinician Assessed PTSD Scale. Four hundred and forty‐one adults participated (mean age—40.0 SD = 13.3, 68% female, 95% African American). Fourteen percent endorsed recent SP. In approximately 1/3 of those with SP, episodes also featured panic symptoms. SP was strongly associated with trauma history, and concurrent anxiety and mood symptoms. SP was not associated with specific psychiatric disorders other than lifetime (but not current) alcohol or substance use disorders. Our findings suggest that SP is not uncommon in adult African Americans and is associated with trauma and concurrent distress but not with a specific psychiatric diagnosis. Depression and Anxiety 0:1–6, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.