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Research in Brief: Sleep paralysis in Italy: Terrifying ghosts and witches – and symptoms of psychopathology (PTSD and depression)
Jalal, Baland
Romanelli, Andrea
Hinton, Devon E.
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Abstract
A recent study found that over a third of Italians (in Abruzzo) believe their sleep paralysis (SP) might be caused by the Pandafeche – a supernatural creature (Jalal et al., 2015). Research also suggests that SP in Italy has been shaped by local cultural beliefs, which have worsened the experience (e.g. longer paralysis and excessive fear) and made it more frequent; a mind-body interaction. In the present study (N = 67) conducted in Italy, we found that fear during SP was associated with trauma and symptoms of depression. These findings support the idea that SP has been radically shaped by cultural beliefs.