1
|
Fortune DG, Richards HL. Exploding Head Syndrome: A Systematic Scoping Review. Sleep Med Clin 2024; 19:121-142. [PMID: 38368060 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Exploding head syndrome (EHS) has historically been viewed as a disorder predominantly affecting older people and being more common in females. Through a comprehensive review of data since 2005, this scoping review provides updated evidence from 4082 participants reporting EHS across a variety of study designs on: how EHS presents; key information on comorbidity and correlates of EHS; how EHS is experienced in terms of symptoms and beliefs; causal theories arising from the research reviewed; and evidence-based information on how research has reported on the management of EHS. Since 2005, EHS has attracted increasing research interest; however, there are significant gaps in the research that are hindering a better understanding of EHS that might be helpful for clinicians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dónal G Fortune
- Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Ireland; Health Service Executive, CHO3, Mid West Region, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Helen L Richards
- Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Ireland; Mercy University Hospital, Grenville Place, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rauf B, Perach R, Madrid-Valero JJ, Denis D, Sharpless BA, Farron H, French CC, Gregory AM. Associations between sleep variables and ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs: A scoping review. Br J Psychol 2023; 114:797-818. [PMID: 37070349 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Night-time is a period of great significance for many people who report paranormal experiences. However, there is limited understanding of the associations between sleep variables and seemingly paranormal experiences and/or beliefs. The aim of this review is to improve our understanding of these associations while unifying a currently fragmented literature-base into a structured, practical review. In this pre-registered scoping review, we searched for relevant studies in MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO (EBSCO), Web of Science and EMBASE using terms related to sleep and ostensibly paranormal experiences and beliefs. Forty-four studies met all inclusion criteria. All were cross-sectional and most investigated sleep paralysis and/or lucid dreaming in relation to ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs. Overall, there were positive associations between many sleep variables (including sleep paralysis, lucid dreams, nightmares, and hypnagogic hallucinations) and ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs (including those of ghosts, spirits, and near-death experiences). The findings of this review have potential clinical implications such as reducing misdiagnosis and treatment development and provide foundations for further research. Our findings also highlight the importance of understanding why so many people report 'things that go bump in the night'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betul Rauf
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| | - Rotem Perach
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
- School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
| | - Juan J Madrid-Valero
- Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Dan Denis
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Brian A Sharpless
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hope Farron
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Alice M Gregory
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rauf B, Perach R, Madrid-Valero JJ, Denis D, Sharpless BA, Poerio GL, French CC, Gregory AM. The associations between paranormal beliefs and sleep variables. J Sleep Res 2023:e13810. [PMID: 36632033 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have found significant associations between paranormal beliefs and sleep variables. However, these have been conducted on a small scale and are limited in the number of sleep variables investigated. This study aims to fill a gap in the literature by investigating paranormal beliefs in relation to a wide range of sleep variables in a large sample. Participants (N = 8853) completed a survey initiated by the BBC Focus Magazine. They reported on their demographics, sleep disturbances and paranormal beliefs. Poorer subjective sleep quality (lower sleep efficiency, longer sleep latency, shorter sleep duration and increased insomnia symptoms) was associated with greater endorsement of belief in: (1) the soul living on after death; (2) the existence of ghosts; (3) demons; (4) an ability for some people to communicate with the dead; (5) near-death experiences are evidence for life after death; and (6) aliens have visited earth. In addition, episodes of exploding head syndrome and isolated sleep paralysis were associated with the belief that aliens have visited earth. Isolated sleep paralysis was also associated with the belief that near-death experiences are evidence for life after death. Findings obtained here indicate that there are associations between beliefs in the paranormal and various sleep variables. This information could potentially better equip us to support sleep via psychoeducation. Mechanisms underlying these associations are likely complex, and need to be further explored to fully understand why people sometimes report "things that go bump in the night".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betul Rauf
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| | - Rotem Perach
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK.,School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
| | - Juan J Madrid-Valero
- Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Dan Denis
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Brian A Sharpless
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK.,Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Alice M Gregory
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kaneko Y, Kawae A, Saitoh K, Gon Y, Uchiyama M, Suzuki M. Exploding Head Syndrome Accompanied by Repeating Panic Attacks: A Case Report. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:613420. [PMID: 33551876 PMCID: PMC7862109 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.613420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
To the best of our knowledge, we report here for the first time a case of exploding head syndrome (EHS) that caused repeating panic attacks. A 62-year-old woman experienced a sudden sensation of a loud noise just before going to sleep. The frequency of these episodes rapidly increased to multiple times per night, and she soon began to fear sleep, which led to the occurrence of nighttime panic attacks. She was diagnosed with EHS at our sleep clinic, and clonazepam was prescribed accompanied by reassurance about the benign nature of this syndrome. The intensity of the loud noise gradually reduced, and her fear of sleep and panic attacks disappeared at around the same time. In this report, we argue the importance of gaining further knowledge about EHS, including that about complicating psychiatric symptoms and that about its treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki Kaneko
- Department of Psychiatry, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiomi Kawae
- Department of Psychiatry, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaori Saitoh
- Department of Psychiatry, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Sleep Medicine Center, Nihon University Itabashi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Gon
- Sleep Medicine Center, Nihon University Itabashi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Uchiyama
- Department of Psychiatry, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Sleep Medicine Center, Nihon University Itabashi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Tokyoadachi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Suzuki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Sleep Medicine Center, Nihon University Itabashi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|