Our objectives are to identify SP's global prevalence, the affected population's characteristics, and the SP's clinical picture.

The analysis included 76 studies from 25 countries with 167,133 participants. The global prevalence of SP was 30% (95% CI [ 22%, 39%]). There were similar frequencies of Isolated SP and nonisolated SP (33%, 95% CI [26%, 42%], I2 = 97%, P <0.01; 31%, 95% CI [21%, 43%], I2 = 100%, P = 0, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that the majority of those who experienced SP were psychiatric patients (35%, 95% CI [20%, 55%], I2 = 96%, P <0.01), particularly in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorders (60%, 95% CI [13%, 94%], I2 = 97%, P <0.01, respectively). The prevalence among non-psychiatric patients was among students (34%, 95% CI [23%, 47%], I2 = 100%, P = 0). Auditory and visual hallucinations were reported in 24.25% of patients. 4% had only visual hallucinations. Meta-regression showed no association between the frequency of SP and sex. Publication bias was detected among the included studies through visual inspection of funnel plot asymmetry. 

Our findings revealed that 30% of the population suffered from SP, especially among psychiatric patients and students. Patients with PTSD and panic disorder were the majority to be affected by SP.