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Healthcare
Special Issues
Recent Advances in Sleep Disorder
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Recent Advances in Sleep Disorder

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 5252

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sunny Chan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Health and Clinical Research, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1DD, UK
Interests: mind-body intervention; sleep; dementia

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite significant advances in the understanding and treatment of sleep disorders in recent years, challenges remain in effectively diagnosing and managing these conditions. A substantial number of individuals continue to experience persistent sleep disturbances that impact their overall health and quality of life. As such, there is a pressing need to explore innovative approaches to understanding the mechanisms underlying sleep disorders and to identify effective interventions.

This Special Issue aims to publish original studies and reviews, including both clinical trials and observational studies, that examine recent advances in the field of sleep disorders. We invite contributions that investigate the aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment of various sleep conditions, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and circadian rhythm disorders. Methodologies may encompass (but are not limited to) polysomnography, actigraphy, subjective sleep assessments, and neuroimaging techniques.

We will also consider narrative, systematic, and meta-analytic reviews that address specific questions related to sleep disorder research. Studies that explore the interplay between sleep and other health conditions, as well as those that examine the impact of lifestyle, environmental factors, and psychological well-being on sleep, are particularly welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sunny Chan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sleep disorders
  • insomnia
  • clinical trials
  • observational studies
  • actigraphy
  • neuroimaging
  • sleep assessment
  • lifestyle factors
  • systematic reviews and meta-analysis
  • sleep mechanisms

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 302 KB  
Article
Association Between Sleep, Beliefs About Sleep, and Executive Functioning in a College Student Sample: The Moderating Role of Dysfunctional Beliefs
by Kate Schneider, Gillian Falletta and D. Erik Everhart
Healthcare 2025, 13(18), 2373; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13182373 - 22 Sep 2025
Viewed by 622
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Sleep is integral to cognitive functioning, yet many college students experience poor sleep, often influenced by dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. Dysfunctional beliefs can exacerbate sleep issues and negatively impact executive functioning (EF). Distinct EF facets, including inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Sleep is integral to cognitive functioning, yet many college students experience poor sleep, often influenced by dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. Dysfunctional beliefs can exacerbate sleep issues and negatively impact executive functioning (EF). Distinct EF facets, including inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, may differ in their sensitivity to sleep disruptions. While research suggests links between sleep and EF, less is known about how sleep-related beliefs may moderate this relationship and how sleep can affect the various EF facets. Utilizing an undergraduate population, this study examined how sleep quality/quantity affects the different EF facets, how this relationship differs between subjective and objective measurements, and whether dysfunctional beliefs about sleep moderate the relationship. Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 212, ages 18–23) completed self-report measures assessing dysfunctional beliefs about sleep (DBAS-16), sleep quality (ISI), and sleep quantity (self-reported sleep duration). Objective EF was measured using computerized CNS Vital Signs tasks targeting inhibition (Stroop Test), working memory (4-Part Continuous Performance Test), and cognitive flexibility (Shifting Attention). Subjective EF was measured using individual subscales on the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning—Adult Version (BRIEF-A). Results: Moderation analyses were conducted via linear regression. When measured objectively, neither sleep quantity nor insomnia severity (sleep quality) significantly affected any EF facets, and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep did not have any significant moderation effect. When measured subjectively, insomnia severity (sleep quality), but not sleep quantity, significantly predicted inhibition and cognitive flexibility; in contrast, neither predictor significantly predicted working memory. Regarding specific predictors, dysfunctional sleep beliefs were found to exert significant effect over all three facets; this effect was diminished when insomnia severity was included in the model. Regarding moderation, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep moderated the relationship between sleep quantity and all three EF facets. Conclusions: The impact of sleep quality, sleep quantity, and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep varies depending on whether the facets of EF are measured subjectively or objectively. Dysfunctional beliefs about sleep may exacerbate the perceived effect of short sleep duration on daytime cognitive functioning. In addition, insomnia severity may account for the effects of dysfunctional sleep beliefs on perceived inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility; however, working memory may be more resistant to the effects of sleep disturbances and dysfunctional sleep beliefs. Clinical implications of these results and future directions are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sleep Disorder)
13 pages, 393 KB  
Article
Health Information Mistrust Is Directly Associated with Poor Sleep Quality: Evidence from a Population-Based Study
by Dietmar Ausserhofer, Christian J. Wiedermann, Verena Barbieri, Stefano Lombardo, Timon Gärtner, Klaus Eisendle, Giuliano Piccoliori and Adolf Engl
Healthcare 2025, 13(12), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121385 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 781
Abstract
Background: Mistrust in professional health information may undermine population health by reducing engagement in preventive care and contributing to poorer health outcomes. Although sleep quality is a sensitive indicator of both psychosocial stress and health behavior, little is known about how mistrust influences [...] Read more.
Background: Mistrust in professional health information may undermine population health by reducing engagement in preventive care and contributing to poorer health outcomes. Although sleep quality is a sensitive indicator of both psychosocial stress and health behavior, little is known about how mistrust influences sleep at the population level, and whether preventive health behavior mediates this relationship. Methods: A weighted cross-sectional analysis of a representative adult sample (n = 2090) from South Tyrol, Italy was conducted. Survey data included mistrust toward professional health information (Mistrust Index), five preventive health behaviors (Health Behavior Checklist, HBC), and sleep quality (Brief Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, B-PSQI). Associations between mistrust, behavior, and sleep were examined using multivariable linear regression, robust regression (Huber’s M-estimator), and nonparametric correlation. Results: Sociodemographic characteristics were not significantly associated with mistrust when weighted data were applied. Higher mistrust was associated with poorer sleep quality (β = 0.09, p = 0.003). Preventive health behaviors varied significantly across mistrust levels, with high-mistrust individuals less likely to report regular engagement (all p < 0.01). Regression analyses confirmed that mistrust was independently associated with poorer sleep quality, while preventive behaviors showed no significant relationship with sleep. Conclusions: Mistrust in professional health information is independently associated with poorer sleep quality and lower engagement in preventive behaviors. However, preventive behavior does not appear to mediate this relationship. These findings highlight mistrust as a direct and potentially modifiable risk factor for sleep disturbance at the population level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sleep Disorder)
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16 pages, 392 KB  
Article
The Implications and Predictability of Sleep Reversal for People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Machine Learning Approach
by Meghan P. Dietrich, Raam Pravin, Jacob Furst and Leonard A. Jason
Healthcare 2025, 13(11), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111255 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 3111
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Impaired sleep is one of the core symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), yet the mechanisms and impact of sleep-related issues are poorly understood. Sleep dysfunctions for patients with ME/CFS include frequent napping, difficulties falling asleep, waking up early, and sleep [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Impaired sleep is one of the core symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), yet the mechanisms and impact of sleep-related issues are poorly understood. Sleep dysfunctions for patients with ME/CFS include frequent napping, difficulties falling asleep, waking up early, and sleep reversal patterns (e.g., sleeping throughout the day and staying awake throughout the night). The current study focuses on sleep reversal for patients with ME/CFS. Methods: We explored the symptoms and functional impairment of those with and without sleep reversal by analyzing the responses of a large international sample (N = 2313) using the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) and Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results: We found that those in our Sleep Reversal group (N = 327) compared to those without sleep reversal (N = 1986) reported higher symptom burden for 53 out of 54 DSQ symptoms and greater impairments for all six SF-36 subscales. The most accurate predictors of sleep reversal included age (p < 0.05), body mass index (p < 0.05), eleven DSQ symptoms (p < 0.01), and two SF-36 subscales (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These features provide clues regarding some of the possible pathophysiological underpinnings of sleep reversal among those with ME/CFS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sleep Disorder)
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