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

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  • Paulina Wróbel-Knybel

    (I Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-442 Lublin, Poland)

  • Joanna Rog

    (I Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-442 Lublin, Poland)

  • Baland Jalal

    (Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK)

  • Paweł Szewczyk

    (I Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-442 Lublin, Poland)

  • Hanna Karakuła-Juchnowicz

    (I Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-442 Lublin, Poland
    Department of Clinical Neuropsychiatry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-442 Lublin, Poland)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Paulina Wróbel-Knybel & Joanna Rog & Baland Jalal & Paweł Szewczyk & Hanna Karakuła-Juchnowicz, 2021. "Sleep Paralysis among Professional Firefighters and a Possible Association with PTSD—Online Survey-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9442-:d:630615
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sergio Garbarino & Ottavia Guglielmi & Matteo Puntoni & Nicola Luigi Bragazzi & Nicola Magnavita, 2019. "Sleep Quality among Police Officers: Implications and Insights from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Paulina Wróbel-Knybel & Hanna Karakuła-Juchnowicz & Michał Flis & Joanna Rog & Devon E. Hinton & Piotr Boguta & Baland Jalal, 2020. "Prevalence and Clinical Picture of Sleep Paralysis in a Polish Student Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-12, May.
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    1. Paulina Wróbel-Knybel & Michał Flis & Joanna Rog & Baland Jalal & Leszek Wołkowski & Hanna Karakuła-Juchnowicz, 2022. "Characteristics of Sleep Paralysis and Its Association with Anxiety Symptoms, Perceived Stress, PTSD, and Other Variables Related to Lifestyle in Selected High Stress Exposed Professions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-20, June.

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