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                       The Old Hag phenomenon as sleep paralysis: a
biocultural interpretation.

                       Ness RC

                       This paper describes a syndrome of
psychological and physical symptoms involving body
                       paralysis and hallucinations traditionally
interpreted in Newfoundland as an attack of 'Old Hag'.
                       Folk theories of cause and treatment are
outlined based on 13 months of field research in a
                       community on the northeast coast of
Newfoundland. Data derived from the responses of 69
                       adults to the Cornell Medical Index (CMI)
indicate that there are no significant differences in
                       psychological or physical illness complaints
between adults who have experienced the Old Hag
                       and adults who have not had this experience.
The striking similarity between the Old Hag
                       experience and a clinical condition called
sleep paralysis is analyzed, and the implications of
                       viewing the Old Hag as sleep paralysis are
discussed within the context of current theoretical
                       issues in transcultural psychiatry.