Isolated sleep paralysis is a type of paralysis associated with a sleep disorder. Sleep paralysis is the inability to perform voluntary muscle movements during sleep.
See also: Narcolepsy
Isolated sleep paralysis is more likely to happen during the first two hours of sleep. Not getting enough sleep or sleeping on the back may cause more frequent episodes.
Though this condition may be associated with narcolepsy, many people who do not have narcolepsy have isolated sleep paralysis. It is common in adults and is also seen in children.
Most people with isolated sleep paralysis do not have any mental health problems. However, these episodes seem to occur more often in people with:
Rarely, it runs in families.
People with isolated sleep paralysis have episodes that last from a few seconds to 1 or 2 minutes in which they are unable to move or speak.
If you do not have other symptoms of narcolepsy, there is usually no need to perform sleep studies.
Sleep paralysis - isolated