Sleep and Pain: From Bench to Bedside

Dear Colleagues,

Sleep plays a fundamental role in adolescent and young adult brain development. During sleep, the brain undergoes essential processes for memory consolidation, synaptic pruning, and emotional regulation. Disruptions in sleep architecture, particularly insufficient or excessive sleep duration, have been linked to a cascade of neurobiological events. Recent research suggests that sleep disturbances can trigger neuroinflammatory responses, potentially leading to the development of mood disorders like depression.

Chronic pain is a prevalent and often debilitating condition, and its relationship with mental health is complex and bidirectional. Circadian rhythm disturbances can exacerbate pain perception and intensity, which, in turn, can disrupt sleep and contribute to the development or worsening of mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. This intricate interplay underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking circadian rhythms, pain, and mental health. This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences seeks to gather innovative research that elucidates the complex relationships between circadian rhythms, pain, and mental health in the young. We invite researchers to submit original basic science research articles to explore these topics from molecular and neurobiological perspectives. By advancing our understanding in these areas, we aim to promote the development of more effective therapeutic strategies that may meet the unique needs of young individuals.

Dr. Kuan-Pin Su
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.