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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Apr 12.
Published in final edited form as: J Clin Psychol. 2010 Aug 16;66(12):1292–1306. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20724

Table 1.

Study Criteria for Fearful Isolated Sleep Paralysis Episodes and Recurrent Fearful Isolated Sleep Paralysis

Fearful Isolated Sleep Paralysis Episode

  1. A period of time at sleep onset or upon awakening during which voluntary movement is not possible, yet some degree of awareness is present

  2. The episode(s) of sleep paralysis is/are accompanied by significant fear, anxiety, or dread that may be associated with either the paralysis itself or the presence of hypnagogic (sleep onset) or hypnopompic (sleep offset) hallucinations

  3. The episode(s) of sleep paralysis is/are not better accounted for by the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., alcohol, drug of abuse, or medications)

  4. Isolated sleep paralysis is not better accounted for by a general medical condition (e.g., narcolepsy, seizure disorder, hypokalemia) or other psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., sleep terror disorder)

Recurrent Fearful Isolated Sleep Paralysis

  1. At least two episodes of fearful Isolated Sleep Paralysis (as defined above) taking place in the past 6 months

  2. The episodes of sleep paralysis are accompanied by clinically significant distress and/or impairment

  3. The episodes of sleep paralysis are not better accounted for by the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., alcohol, drug of abuse, or medications)

  4. The sleep paralysis episodes are not better accounted for by a general medical condition (e.g., narcolepsy, seizure disorder, hypokalemia) or other psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., sleep terror disorder)

Standardized Scoring for Fearful Isolated Sleep Paralysis (ISP) Episodes and Recurrent Fearful Isolated Sleep Paralysis

  1. Fearful ISP frequency in the past 6 months

    • 0 = No episodes

    • 1 = Less than 1 episode per month

    • 2 = 1– 3 episodes per month

    • 3 = At least 4 episodes per month

  2. Overall fear/distress during and as a result of fearful ISP episodes in the past 6 months

    • 0 = No fear/distress

    • 1 = Mild fear/distress

    • 2 = Moderate fear/distress

    • 3 = Severe fear/distress

  3. Interference from fearful ISP episodes in the past 6 months

    • 0 = No interference

    • 1 = Mild, slight interference—patient feels as if at least one aspect of his/her life has been negatively affected or impaired, but only to a limited degree

    • 2 = Moderate interference—ISP symptoms cause definite and noticeable interference in one or more areas, but these areas remain manageable

    • 3 = Severe interference—ISP symptoms cause substantial impairment, and patient may feel unable to manage required affairs or, following ISP episodes, may be unable to function for a time

Total score range: 0–9