Recent Advances in Sleep Disorder

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Chronic Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1800

Special Issue 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

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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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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 393 KiB  
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 244
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 KiB  
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 1171
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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