The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20111011122009/http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca:80/~acheyne/spquest01.html

Waterloo Unusual Sleep Experiences Questionnaire -VIIIa

J. A. Cheyne
 
We are currently conducting research in the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo on unusual experiences people sometimes have when falling asleep or awakening. We invite you to participate in this research if you are interested in doing so. We have developed a survey questionnaire that samples the variety of experiences associated with sleep onset/offset and are collecting information we are using for detailed quantitative analysis. 

We would very much appreciate your contribution if you should decide to fill out the questionnaire and submit your responses. This research has been approved by the Office of Human Research at the University of Waterloo. All information collected as a result of your participation in the study will be used for research purposes only and no individuals will be identified in any report of this research. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project please contact Dr. Cheyne, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo (acheyne@uwaterloo.ca). 

For each of the experiences we would also like you to estimate how Vivid or Intense the experience was. We will be asking you to use a standard 7-point scale for all experiences. To provide some guidance and standardization we have provided anchor points to help you use the scale.

vague and suggestive, more like a hint of something

a very clear and distinct impression, as clear as any everyday experience

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

A text box  is also provided for each question so that you may type in more detailed qualitative information about the experience referred to in the question.

Participation is voluntary and please feel free to decline to answer any question.

 

Sometimes when falling asleep or when waking from sleep, I experience a brief period during which I am unable to move, even though I am awake and conscious of my surroundings. 
 
Frequency  Intensity/Vividness Please describe your experiences in your own words.

No Paralysis
Once
Several times in life
Several times a year
Monthly
Weekly
Several times a week

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

On these occasions I have tried to speak or call out but was unable to do so. 

 
Frequency   
Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always 		Please describe your experience in your own words.
Sometimes during these experiences people have 'false awakenings', that is, they believe that they sit up, get out of bed, and even engage in various activities, only to find themselves suddenly back in bed waking up again. Have you ever had this sort of experience?
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details, if possible, about this feeling. 

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I had the feeling of a presence in the room with me. (What is meant here is an awareness of something present, independently of actually seeing or hearing anything.) 
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details, if possible, about this feeling. 

Never
> Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

Did you have any sense of this thing being:   Male       Female        Neutral or Unsure       ?

During the experience I had a sensation of floating.
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details.
Never 
Occasionally 
Frequently 
Always		 Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I imagined that I saw a something: a shape, person or being of some kind.
 
Frequency Intensity Please describe details, if any, abou t what you saw. 
Never 
Occasionally 
Frequently 
Always		 Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I felt pressure on my chest or other part(s) of my body.
 
Frequency Intensity

Please provide details, including parts of body affected.
Never 
Occasionally 
Frequently 
Always		 Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

Please indicate if this felt like: a weight pressing down             or a person or creature sitting on chest

During the experience I felt as though I were being smothered.
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

 Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I heard unusual  sounds.
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details of the sounds you heard.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

 Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

 Please indicate if the sounds were:  hard to specify background noises? ,  sounds of movement such as footsteps? ,  voices?

During the experience I felt like I might die.
 
Frequency Intensity Comments:

Never 
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I felt numbness, vibrating or tingling sensations. 
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details, including parts of the body that were affected.
Never 
Occasionally 
Frequently 
Always		 Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I felt like I had temporarily left my body.
 
Freque ncy Intensity Please provide details about any particular sensations you might have experienced at that time.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I was able to see my own body as if from an outside vantage point.
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details. For example, where did you seem to be when you saw yourself.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I noticed unusual odors.
 
Frequency Inte nsity Please provide details. Was the odor identifiable?

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I experience 'elevator' feelings of moving rapidly up or down. 
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details.
Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always		 Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I noticed that the bedcovers seemed to move on their own or as if pulled by someone or something.
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I had the illusion that I sat up, or moved an arm or leg, or walked around the room, only to discover later that I had not moved at all.
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details about the nature of the movements or the body parts involved.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I felt that I was falling.
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I felt as though I were being strangled.
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I felt like I was flying.
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
LUE="3"> Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I felt my body was spinning or turning rapidly. 
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details.
Never 
Occasionally
Frequently
Always		 Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the immobility I had the sensation of being physically touched?
 
Frequency Intensity Please provide details, including body parts involved.

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
During the experience I was able to open my eyes.
 
Frequency Intensity Comments

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
 People may experience various feelings during sleep paralysis. Please indicate the frequency and rate the intensity of any of the feelings  experienced during the sleep paralysis experience that are listed below.

Fear
 
Frequency Intensity Comments

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

Bliss
 
 
Frequency Intensity Comments

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

Pain
 
Frequency Intensity Comments

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
E=+1>2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

Cold
 
Frequency Intensity Comments

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

Sadness
 
Frequency Intensity Comments

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
5 
6 
7

Anger
 
Frequency Intensity Comments

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

Erotic feelings
 
Frequency Intensity Comments

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7

Shaking or trembling
 
Frequency Intensity Comments

Never
Occasionally
Frequently
Always

Does not apply 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7
In what position were you during the episode(s)? 
 
If you have multiple experiences please indicate the most common position, if possible. Comments
Don't Remember 

Varies 
On Back 
Face Down 
On Left Side 
On Right Side 

In what position do you normally lie when you are falling asleep? 
 
Please indicate most common position 
(i.e., use "varies" only if you truly have 
no most common position		 Comments
Don't Remember 

Varies 
On Back 
Face Down 
On Left Side 
On Right Side 

Approximately how long ago did you last have an episode of sleep paralysis?
 
I had the last experience within: Comments

last few hours. 
last 24 hours. 
last week. 
last month. 
last six months. 
last year. 
last five years.

I had this experience more than five years ago.

 

How awake or alert were you during the episode(s)? 

Very Groggy /

 Sleepy

Very Alert / 

Wide Awake
 

At what times have you had this experience? (Check any that apply)

When Falling Asleep

When waking up

In the middle of a sleep period

 
 When do you have these experiences (Please check at least one):

During main period of sleep?

During Naps?

 Other: Please specify in the text box below.

Does the experience typically begin (Check any that apply):

while you are lying awake and continuously conscious of your immediate waking environment?

following a brief period of absent mindedness (i.e., unsure whether one was asleep or not)?

upon waking from deep (i.e, dreamless) sleep?

directly from a dream?
other? Please explain.
At approximately what age (in years) did you have your first experience?     
 
Please indicate, by checking the appropriate boxes, if any of the following condition apply to you. Please use the dialogue box to elaborate on any of the items or to indicate if you have ever received a medical diagnosis or medication for any of  following. Feel free to add any information about other conditions or medications that you might feel are relevant.
 
 
Narcolepsy 

Sleep apnea 

Insomnia

Cataplexy

Daytime sleep attacks

Frequent night waking

Hypokalemic paralysis

Epilepsy 

Panic disorder 

Depression 

Anxiety disorder 

Fibromyalgia 

Sexual abuse 

Physical abuse 

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Comments, including the source of the diagnosis and any medications taken and their effects, if any, on these episodes: 
 
Have you noticed any particular conditions that seem to precede these experiences (e.g., changes in life style, sleep patterns, work schedule, emotional experiences, etc.)?

If you are currently having these experiences (i.e., within the last six months) please indicate any medications  you currently using, or may have been using at the time you had any of the experiences described above.

 
Sex:       Female       Male

Current Age in years only:     

Birth date: Please use the following format (e.g., 06/25/1940)   

Citizenship (Country):   

Ethnic Background:   

Occupation: 

Please feel free also to provide additional comments, especially if there were issues or experiences not covered in the survey questions, or if you found any items confusing, ambiguous, or otherwise problematic.

If you are willing to be contacted for feedback or further research participation please use the following text box to provide an e-mail address.

Thank you for your contribution.


 Sleep ParalysisBack to Sleep Paralysis Page