DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 25:435–440 (2008) Research Article SLEEP PARALYSIS AND TRAUMA, PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS AND DISORDERS IN AN ADULT AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION ATTENDING PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE Thomas A. Mellman, M.D., Ã Notalelomwan Aigbogun, M.S., Ruth Elaine Graves, Ph.D., William B. Lawson, M.D., Ph.D., and Tanya N. Alim, M.D. 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 5 142) 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 5 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 25:435–440, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc y . Key words: sleep paralysis; panic disorder; African Americans; trauma INTRODUCTION Sleep paralysis (SP) features waking up from sleep and being temporarily unable to move and is often accompanied by visual hallucinations and fear. SP is one of the diagnostic features of narcolepsy. When SP occurs absent this diagnosis it is referred to as ‘‘isolated’’ SP. SP appears to result from the normal suppression of motor activity during rapid eye move- ment (REM) sleep carrying over into wakefulness [Vaughn and D’Cruz, 2005]. SP,particularly ‘‘isolated’’ SP, is not uncommon and its occurrence can provoke distress and confusion. Additional reasons for interest Published online 2 July 2007 in Wiley InterScience (www. interscience.wiley.com). y This article is a US Government work and, as such as, is in the public domain in the United States of America. DOI 10.1002/da.20311 Received for publication 8 June 2006; Revised 21 November 2006; Accepted 31 January 2007 Contract grant sponsor: NIMH; Contract grant number: 01-DI- 0017; Contract grant sponsor: NIMH Grant; Contract grant number: K24 MH001917-07. Ã Correspondence to: Thomas A. Mellman, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, Howard University Mental Health Clinic, 530 College St., Washington DC 20059. E-mail: TMellman@Howard.edu Department of Psychiatry, Howard University, Washington, DC Published 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.