Sleep paralysis tends to occur in a person with one or more risk factors.
Psychiatric disorders:
(1) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
(2) panic disorder
(3) stress
(4) substance abuse
(5) history of childhood sexual abuse
Problems of sleep quality:
(1) obstructive sleep apnea
(2) narcolepsy
(3) insufficient sleep
(4) shift work
(5) hypersomnia
Comorbid conditions:
(1) physical illness
(2) trauma
Other:
(1) hereditary/inherited factors
(2) cultural or personal beliefs, including belief in the supernatural
