Interactions between evening and nocturnal cortisol secretion and sleep parameters in patients with severe chronic primary insomnia

Exogenous melatonin's effect on salivary cortisol and amylase: A randomized controlled trial

This study aimed to examine the effect of acute exogenous melatonin administration on salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (sCort and sAA) as representatives of the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system, respectively. A single-dose prolonged-release melatonin (2 mg) or a placebo tablet was given to healthy volunteers (n = 64) at 20:00 h in a crossover design. The saliva was collected at six time points (20:00, 21:00, awakening, 30 min after awakening, 10:00, and 12:00 h) and was measured for sCort, sAA, and salivary melatonin (sMT) levels. Pulse rates and sleep parameters were also collected. Melatonin was effective in improving sleep onset latency by 7:04 min (p = .037) and increasing total sleep time by 24 min (p = .006). Participants with poor baseline sleep quality responded more strongly to melatonin than participants with normal baseline sleep quality as they reported more satisfaction in having adequate sleep (p = .017). Melatonin administration resulted in higher sCort levels at awakening time point (p = .023) and a tendency of lower sAA levels but these were not significant. Melatonin ingestion at 20:00 h resulted in a marked increase in sMT levels at 21:00 h and remained higher than baseline up to at least 10:00 h (p < .001). Melatonin increases sCort levels at certain time point with a tendency to lower sAA levels. These opposing effects of melatonin suggested a complex interplay between melatonin and these biomarkers. Also, the results confirmed the positive acute effect of a single-dose melatonin on sleep quality.

A meta-analysis of the association between insomnia with objective short sleep duration and risk of hypertension

The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine the association between insomnia with objective short sleep duration (ISSD) with prevalent and incident hypertension in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, respectively. Data were collected from 6 cross-sectional studies with 5914 participants and 2 longitudinal studies with 1963 participants. Odds ratios (ORs) for prevalent and risk ratios (RRs) for incident hypertension were calculated through meta-analyses of adjusted data from individual studies. Compared to normal sleepers with objective normal sleep duration (NNSD), ISSD was significantly associated with higher pooled OR for prevalent hypertension (pooled OR = 2.67, 95%CI = 1.45-4.90) and pooled RR for incident hypertension (pooled RR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.19-3.20), respectively. Compared to insomnia with objective normal sleep duration, ISSD was associated with significantly higher pooled OR of prevalent hypertension (pooled OR = 1.94, 95%CI = 1.29-2.92) and pooled RR for incident hypertension (pooled RR = 2.07, 95%CI = 1.47-2.90), respectively. Furthermore, normal sleepers with objective short sleep duration were not associated with either prevalent (pooled OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 0.84-1.75) or incident (pooled RR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.81-1.17) hypertension compared to NNSD. Our findings suggest that ISSD is a more severe phenotype of the disorder associated with a higher risk of hypertension. Objective short sleep duration might be a valid and clinically useful index of insomnia's impact on cardiovascular health.

Insomnia and risk of mortality in older adults

Existing evidence linking insomnia to all-cause mortality in older individuals remains inconclusive. We conducted a retrospective study of a large cohort of veterans aged 65-80 years old identified from the Corporate Data Warehouse, a large data repository derived from the Veterans Health Administration integrated medical records. Veterans' enrollees with and without International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revision, codes corresponding to insomnia diagnosis between 1 January 2010 and 30 March 2019 were assessed for eligibility. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. A total of 36,269 veterans, 9584 with insomnia and 26,685 without insomnia, were included in the analysis. Baseline mean (SD) age was 72.6 (4.2) years. During a mean follow-up of 6.0 (2.9) years of the propensity score matched sample, the mortality rate was 34.8 [95% confidence interval: 33.2-36.6] deaths per 1000 person-years among patients with insomnia compared with 27.8 [95% confidence interval: 26.6-29.1] among patients without insomnia. In a Cox proportional hazards model, insomnia was significantly associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio: 1.39; [95% confidence interval: 1.27-1.52]). Patients with insomnia also had a higher risk of non-fatal cardiovascular events (hazard ratio: 1.21; [95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.37]). Secondary stratified analyses by sex, race, ethnicity and hypertension showed no evidence of effect modification. A higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio: 1.51; [95% confidence interval: 1.33-1.71]) was observed when depression was present compared with absent (hazard ratio: 1.26; [95% confidence interval: 1.12-1.44]; p = 0.02). In this cohort study, insomnia was associated with increased risk-adjusted mortality and non-fatal cardiovascular events in older individuals.

Impaired Well-Being and Insomnia as Residuals of Resolved Medical Conditions: Survey in the Italian Population

BACKGROUND

Well-being encompasses physical, mental, social, and cultural aspects. Sleep quality and pathologies are among the objective conditions jeopardising it. Chronic insomnia, inflammatory-based diseases, and mood disorders often occur in a single cluster, and inflammation can negatively impact sleep, potentially harming well-being. Some evidence from specific clinical populations suggests that also some resolved past diseases could still have an impact on present sleep quality and well-being. The aim of the present study is to investigate, in the general population, whether and to what degree well-being and insomnia are associated with resolved pathologies.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey (IPSAD®) was carried out using anonymous postal questionnaires that investigated past and present general health, well-being, and insomnia. A total of 10,467 subjects answered the questionnaire.

RESULTS

Several classes of both current and resolved pathologies resulted in increased odds ratios for current insomnia (odds ratios = 1.90; 1.43, respectively) and impaired well-being (odds ratios = 1.75; 1.33, respectively), proportional to the number of the displayed pathologies. Notably, both current and resolved past psychiatric disorders were strongly associated with both current impaired well-being (odds ratios = 5.38; 1.70, respectively) and insomnia (odds ratios = 4.99; 2.15, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

To explain these associations, we suggest that systemic inflammation conveyed by several medical conditions disrupts homeostatic processes, with final effects on sleep quality and behaviour.

Age-related differences in the association of mild-to-moderate sleep apnea with incident cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

BACKGROUND

Mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea (mmOSA) is highly prevalent in the general population. However, studies on its association with incident cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular disease (CBVD) are limited. We examined the association between mild-to-moderate OSA and incident cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular (CBVD) in a general population sample, and whether age modifies this association.

METHODS

A total of 1173 adults from the Penn State Adult Cohort (20-88 years) without CBVD or severe OSA at baseline were followed-up after 9.2 (±4.1) years. Incident CBVD was defined based on a self-report of a physician diagnosis or treatment for heart disease and/or stroke. Logistic regression examined the association of mild-to-moderate OSA (AHI 5-29.9) with incident CBVD and the combined effect of mmOSA and MetS on incident CBVD after adjusting for multiple confounders.

RESULTS

Age significantly modified the association between mmOSA with incident CBVD (p-interaction = 0.04). Mild-to-moderate OSA was significantly associated with incident CBVD in adults aged <60 years (OR = 1.74, 95%CI = 1.06-2.88, p = 0.029), but not in adults aged ≥60 years (OR = 0.71, 95%CI = 0.39-1.27, p = 0.247). Even mild OSA (AHI 5-14.9) carried a significant risk for incident CBDV in adults aged <60 years (OR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.05-3.28, p = 0.032). An additive effect was found between mmOSA and MetS with incident CBVD in those aged <65 years (OR = 3.84, 95%CI = 1.95-7.56, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of incident CBVD is increased in young and middle-aged but not older adults with mmOSA, which may affect the way we currently diagnose and treat this highly prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder.

Mobile sensing to advance tumor modeling in cancer patients: A conceptual framework

As mobile and wearable devices continue to grow in popularity, there is strong yet unrealized potential to harness people's mobile sensing data to improve our understanding of their cellular and biologically-based diseases. Breakthrough technical innovations in tumor modeling, such as the three dimensional tumor microenvironment system (TMES), allow researchers to study the behavior of tumor cells in a controlled environment that closely mimics the human body. Although patients' health behaviors are known to impact their tumor growth through circulating hormones (cortisol, melatonin), capturing this process is a challenge to rendering realistic tumor models in the TMES or similar tumor modeling systems. The goal of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework that unifies researchers from digital health, data science, oncology, and cellular signaling, in a common cause to improve cancer patients' treatment outcomes through mobile sensing. In support of our framework, existing studies indicate that it is feasible to use people's mobile sensing data to approximate their underlying hormone levels. Further, it was found that when cortisol is cycled through the TMES based on actual patients' cortisol levels, there is a significant increase in pancreatic tumor cell growth compared to when cortisol levels are at normal healthy levels. Taken together, findings from these studies indicate that continuous monitoring of people's hormone levels through mobile sensing may improve experimentation in the TMES, by informing how hormones should be introduced. We hope our framework inspires digital health researchers in the psychosocial sciences to consider how their expertise can be applied to advancing outcomes across levels of inquiry, from behavioral to cellular.

Insomnia nosology: a systematic review and critical appraisal of historical diagnostic categories and current phenotypes

Insomnia nosology has significantly evolved since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-III-R first distinguished between 'primary' and 'secondary' insomnia. Prior International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) nosology 'split' diagnostic phenotypes to address insomnia's heterogeneity and the DSM nosology 'lumped' them into primary insomnia, while both systems assumed causality for insomnia secondary to health conditions. In this systematic review, we discuss the historical phenotypes in prior insomnia nosology, present findings for currently proposed insomnia phenotypes based on more robust approaches, and critically appraise the most relevant ones. Electronic databases PsychINFO, PubMED, Web of Science, and references of eligible articles, were accessed to find diagnostic manuals, literature on insomnia phenotypes, including systematic reviews or meta-analysis, and assessments of the reliability or validity of insomnia diagnoses, identifying 184 articles. The data show that previous insomnia diagnoses lacked reliability and validity, leading current DSM-5-TR and ICSD-3 nosology to 'lump' phenotypes into a single diagnosis comorbid with health conditions. However, at least two new, robust insomnia phenotyping approaches were identified. One approach is multidimensional-multimethod and provides evidence for self-reported insomnia with objective short versus normal sleep duration linked to clinically relevant outcomes, while the other is multidimensional and provides evidence for two to five clusters (phenotypes) based on self-reported trait, state, and/or life-history data. Some approaches still need replication to better support whether their findings identify true phenotypes or simply different patterns of symptomatology. Regardless, these phenotyping efforts aim at improving insomnia nosology both as a classification system and as a mechanism to guide treatment.

UP165, A Standardized Corn Leaf Extract for Improving Sleep Quality and Mood State

UP165, a standardized Zea mays (corn) leaf extract, was evaluated for its effect on sleep quality and overall well-being in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, administered orally at 250 and 500 mg/day. Participants (n = 45) (age range 19-73) consumed the supplement or placebo ∼60 minutes before bedtime daily for 4 weeks. Measurements that were evaluated were as follows: daily sleep quality, as monitored by a fitness tracker; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality and efficiency; salivary cortisol levels for stress; and Profile of Mood States (POMS) to assess general well-being. Participants who received UP165 showed a statistically significant and dose-correlated reduction in salivary cortisol (up to 36%); an increase in deep sleep time (up to 30 minutes); increased total sleep time (up to 10%); an improvement in sleep quality (up to 49%), and an enhanced POMS (36-58%). Participants in the UP165 group showed a sevenfold increase in deep sleep time and a 10-fold increase in PSQI sleep quality improvement compared to placebo. Collectively, UP165 is a safe nutritional supplement clinically proven for a 24-hour support with better quality and efficiency of sleep at night and an improved mood state and overall well-being during the day. The clinical study has been ISRCTN registered with study ID ISRCTN68282897.

Cardiovascular events in insomnia patients with post-traumatic stress disorder

BACKGROUND

Both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and insomnia are independently associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular mortality. The objective of this study is to determine whether PTSD plus insomnia is associated with a higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) than either condition alone in a large cohort of veterans.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) electronic medical records covering veterans 18 years or older with the diagnosis of PTSD, insomnia, or both from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020. MACE was defined as new-onset myocardial infarction (MI), transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke, based on ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes from inpatient or outpatient encounters.

RESULTS

A total of 19,080 veterans, 1840 with PTSD plus insomnia and 17,240 with either PTSD or insomnia, were included in the analysis. Baseline mean (SD) age was 46.3 (11.5) years. During median follow-up of 3.9 (interquartile range, 2.4-5.1) years, 206 (1%) veterans developed incident MACE. Cumulative incidence for MI, TIA and/or stroke was larger in veterans with PTSD plus insomnia compared to PTSD and insomnia alone (p=0.008). In a Cox proportional hazards model, PTSD plus insomnia was significantly associated with greater risk of developing MACEs (hazard ratio [HR], 1.44; 95% CI, 1.38-1.50, p=0.01) than either condition after adjusting for multiple covariates including age, gender, smoking, hypertension, depression, and burden of comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

This cohort study found that PTSD plus insomnia is a risk factor for MACEs of greater magnitude than PTSD- or insomnia-alone.

Hippocampal atrophy in neurofunctional subfields in insomnia individuals

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of volume changes in neurofunctional hippocampal subfields in patients with insomnia and their associations with risk of development of insomnia.

Methods

A total of 120 patients with insomnia (78 females, 42 males; mean age ± standard deviation, 43.74 ± 13.02 years) and 120 good sleepers (67 females, 53 males; mean age, 42.69 ± 12.24 years) were recruited. The left hippocampus was segmented into anterior (L1), middle (L2), and posterior (L3) subregions. The right hippocampus was segmented into top anterior (R1), second top anterior (R2), middle (R3), posterior (R4), and last posterior (R5) subregions. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of hippocampal volume (HV) of each subfield with the risk of the development of insomnia. Mediation analyses were performed to evaluate mediated associations among post-insomnia negative emotion, insomnia severity, and HV atrophy. A visual easy-to-deploy risk nomogram was used for individual prediction of risk of development of insomnia.

Results

Hippocampal volume atrophy was identified in the L1, R1, and R2 subregions. L1 and R2 volume atrophy each predisposed to an ~3-fold higher risk of insomnia (L1, odds ratio: 2.90, 95% confidence intervals: [1.24, 6.76], p = 0.014; R2, 2.72 [1.19, 6.20], p = 0.018). Anxiety fully mediates the causal path of insomnia severity leading to R1 volume atrophy with a positive effect. We developed a practical and visual competing risk-nomogram tool for individual prediction of insomnia risk, which stratifies individuals into different levels of insomnia risk with the highest prediction accuracy of 97.4% and an average C-statistic of 0.83.

Conclusion

Hippocampal atrophy in specific neurofunctional subfields was not only found to be associated with insomnia but also a significant risk factor predicting development of insomnia.

Infra-low frequency neurofeedback and insomnia as a model of CNS dysregulation

This paper will review what is conventionally known of sleep homeostasis and focus on insomnia as a primary manifestation of brain dysregulation, whether as a solitary symptom or as part of a larger syndrome such as post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. It will discuss in brief behavioral/mindfulness treatments that have been used to treat neurologic diseases, as this is germane to the phenomenology of neurofeedback (NF). It will explore how neurofeedback may work at the subconscious level and cover the current clinical experience of the effectiveness of this technique in the treatment of insomnia. It will conclude with a case presentation.

The natural history of insomnia: high sleep reactivity interacts with greater life stress to predict the onset of acute insomnia

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Prior research suggests that some individuals have a predisposition to experience insomnia following acute stressors (i.e. sleep reactivity). The present study was a proof of concept and specifically aimed to provide additional empirical evidence that the link between stressful life events and the onset of acute insomnia is moderated by sleep reactivity.

METHODS

About 1,225 adults with a history of good sleep (Mage = 53.2 years, 68% female, 83% white) were recruited nationwide for an online study on sleep health. Participants completed surveys to assess sleep reactivity (baseline), sleep patterns (daily sleep diary), and stressful life events (weekly survey). All daily and weekly measures were completed for a one-year period. Sleep diary data were used to identify sleep initiation/maintenance difficulties, including whether they met criteria for acute insomnia at any point during the one-year interval.

RESULTS

Participants with high sleep reactivity compared to low sleep reactivity were at 76% increased odds of developing acute insomnia during the one-year interval. In general, greater weekly stressful life events were associated with greater insomnia during the subsequent week. Those participants with high sleep reactivity demonstrated a stronger relationship between weekly stressful life events and insomnia, such that they reported the greatest levels of insomnia following weeks where they experienced a greater number of stressful life events.

CONCLUSIONS

These results further support the sleep reactivity model of insomnia, and specifically, provide evidence that sleep reactivity predicts the incidence of acute insomnia in a sample of participants with no history of insomnia.

Drug-Induced Insomnia and Excessive Sleepiness

Undesirable side effects of insomnia and/or sleepiness may occur with many prescribed drugs, psychotropics as well as non-psychotropics. These central nervous system effects can be explained by the interactions of the drug with any of the numerous neurotransmitters and receptors that are involved in sleep and wakefulness. Also a close - sometimes bidirectional - relationship between disease and (disturbed) sleep/wakefulness is often present e.g. in chronic pain; drug effects may lead this vicious circle in both ways. Besides the importance for health and quality of life, effects on sleep or waking function can be a potential source of non-compliance.

Temporal relations between peripheral and central arousals in good and poor sleepers

Good sleepers and patients with insomnia symptoms (poor sleepers) were tracked with two measures of arousal; conventional polysomnography (PSG) for electroencephalogram (EEG) assessed cortical arousals, and a peripheral arterial tonometry device was used for the detection of peripheral nervous system (PNS) arousals associated with vasoconstrictions. The relationship between central (cortical) and peripheral (autonomic) arousals was examined by evaluating their close temporal dynamics. Cortical arousals almost invariably were preceded and followed by peripheral activations, while large peripheral autonomic arousals were followed by cortical arousals only half of the time. The temporal contiguity of these two types of arousals was altered in poor sleepers, and poor sleepers displayed a higher number of cortical and peripheral arousals compared with good sleepers. Given the difference in the number of peripheral autonomic arousals between good and poor sleepers, an evaluation of such arousals could become a means of physiologically distinguishing poor sleepers.

The Effects of Insomnia and Sleep Loss on Cardiovascular Disease

Sleep loss has negative impacts on quality of life, mood, cognitive function and heath. Insomnia or difficulty sleeping is also a prevalent issue, affecting up to 35% of the population at some point in their lives. Insomnia is linked to poor mood, increased use of health care resources, and decreased quality of life as well as possible links to cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Studies have shown an increase in cortisol levels, decreased immunity, and increased markers of sympathetic activity in sleep-deprived healthy subjects and those with chronic insomnia. The literature also shows that subjective complaints consistent with chronic insomnia and shortened sleep time, both independently and in combination, can be associated with the development of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. In this article, we will explore the relationship and strength of association between insufficient sleep and insomnia with these health conditions.

Sleep Deficiency in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep deficiency in patients with obstructive sleep apnea includes abnormal quality, timing, and duration of sleep, and the presence of other comorbid conditions. These include insomnia, circadian misalignment disorders, and periodic limb movements of sleep. The co-occurrence of these conditions with obstructive sleep apnea likely plays a role in the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and management of obstructive sleep apnea. Considering these conditions and their treatment in evaluating sleep deficiency in obstructive sleep apnea may help to improve patient outcomes. However, future research is needed to understand the intersection between obstructive sleep apnea and these disorders.

Longitudinal Effects of Distress and Its Management During COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic that hit Spain during March 2020 forced the strict confinement of the population for 2 months. The objectives of this study were (a) to assess the magnitude and duration of the influence of confinement on people’s Distress, (b) to study the temporal sequence of stress, and (c) to show how different day-to-day activities and personal variables influence perceived Distress levels.

Method: A daily registration was completed by 123 people, with ages ranging from 21 to 75 years old (X¯ = 43, SD = 10 years), of which there were 40 men (32%) and 83 females (68%). During 45 days of lockdown, from March 19th to May 3rd, participants were asked to respond to a socio-demographic survey and make daily records comprising the MASQ-D30 and some day-to-day behaviors. Pooled time series was applied to establish what effect time had on the dependent variable.

Results: Distress has a 14-day autoregressive function and gender, physical activity, sexual activity, listening to music, and teleworking also influence Distress. It has been hypothesized that the intercept presents variability at level 2 (individual), but it has not been significant. Interactions between Gender—Telecommuting, and Gender—Physical Activity were observed. Approximately 66% of the variance of Distress was explained (R² = 0.663).

Discussion: At the beginning of the lockdown, the average levels of Distress were well above the levels of the end (z = 3.301). The individuals in the sample have followed a very similar process in the development of Distress. During the lockdown, the “memory” of Distress was 2 weeks. Our results indicate that levels of Distress depend on activities during lockdown. Interactions exist between gender and some behavioral variables that barely influence Distress in men but decrease Distress in women. The importance of routine maintenance and gender differences must be considered to propose future interventions during confinement.

Sleep Disruption Worsens Seizures: Neuroinflammation as a Potential Mechanistic Link

Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and daytime sleepiness, are common in people diagnosed with epilepsy. These disturbances can be attributed to nocturnal seizures, psychosocial factors, and/or the use of anti-epileptic drugs with sleep-modifying side effects. Epilepsy patients with poor sleep quality have intensified seizure frequency and disease progression compared to their well-rested counterparts. A better understanding of the complex relationship between sleep and epilepsy is needed, since approximately 20% of seizures and more than 90% of sudden unexpected deaths in epilepsy occur during sleep. Emerging studies suggest that neuroinflammation, (e.g., the CNS immune response characterized by the change in expression of inflammatory mediators and glial activation) may be a potential link between sleep deprivation and seizures. Here, we review the mechanisms by which sleep deprivation induces neuroinflammation and propose that neuroinflammation synergizes with seizure activity to worsen neurodegeneration in the epileptic brain. Additionally, we highlight the relevance of sleep interventions, often overlooked by physicians, to manage seizures, prevent epilepsy-related mortality, and improve quality of life.

Amount of < 1Hz deep sleep correlates with melatonin dose in military veterans with PTSD

Military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder often complain of non-restful sleep, which further exacerbates their symptoms. Our previous study showed a deficit in Lo Deep sleep, or slow oscillations, in the PTSD population compared to healthy control sleepers. Because Lo Deep sleep is likely a stage when the brain eliminates protein debris, it is critical to find the cause and effective therapeutics to reverse Lo Deep deficiency. The current study aims to replicate and extend this finding by examining several physiological and medication factors that may be responsible for the Lo Deep deficiency. We recorded overnight sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) via a 2-channel headband device on 69 veterans in a residential treatment facility. Dried urine samples were collected at 4 time points during one day to measure melatonin, cortisol, norepinephrine and other factors. EEG data were transformed into frequency power and submitted to an automated sleep scoring algorithm. The scoring corresponds to clear spectral patterns in the overnight spectrogram but does not align exactly with traditional visual scoring stages. As expected, veterans showed decreased Lo Deep (activity < 1 Hz) and more Hi Deep sleep (1-3 Hz activity) than healthy controls, replicating our previous study. Multiple linear regressions showed that melatonin dose and morning urine melatonin correlated with more Lo Deep sleep. Buspirone dose also correlated with more Lo Deep, but only 6 subjects were taking buspirone. Also replicating the findings from our last study were independent reductions of REM sleep with prazosin and sertraline. Other findings included decreased Lo and increased Hi Deep sleep with higher caffeine dose, and less Hi Deep percentage with higher testosterone. Finally, evening cortisol levels correlated with a higher percentage of Wake after sleep onset. These results confirm Lo Deep deficiency in this PTSD population and suggests melatonin as a possible therapeutic to reverse Lo Deep deficiency. This is a critical first step to establishing a systematic sleep assessment and treatment program in this and potentially other populations to prevent future brain pathology.

Longitudinal associations between hair cortisol, PTSD symptoms, and sleep disturbances in a sample of firefighters with duty-related trauma exposure

Several studies have found evidence of altered cortisol levels in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Based on these findings, it is assumed that these patients may show signs of cortisol dysregulation after trauma. Posttrauma cortisol levels are thus considered a potential biomarker of PTSD. However, longitudinal studies using indicators of long-term cortisol secretion such as hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) are scarce. The current study investigated prospective associations between HCC and PTSD symptoms in a sample of Dutch firefighters taking into account varying levels of work-related trauma severity. In addition, we assessed posttraumatic sleep disturbances as a secondary outcome measure to investigate whether effects generalize to this frequent comorbidity of PTSD. Three hundred seventy-one Dutch firefighters with a mean of 14.01 years of work experience were included in the analyses. Baseline assessment included the collection of hair samples and the measurement of work-related trauma severity, PTSD symptoms, and sleep disturbances. PTSD symptoms and sleep disturbance were re-assessed after six and twelve months. Multilevel analyses indicate a significant positive correlation between HCC and baseline PTSD symptoms in those with average or above-average work-related trauma severity. A similar pattern was evident for posttraumatic sleep disturbances at baseline. Moreover, higher HCC predicted more posttraumatic sleep disturbances after 6 months in participants with above-average work-related trauma severity. No other associations emerged for PTSD symptoms or posttraumatic sleep disturbances at six or twelve months. As such, our study supports the existence of a cross-sectional association between HCC and trauma symptoms, which may vary for different levels of subjective trauma severity. The longitudinal stability of this association should be reinvestigated by future research.

Evaluating sleep quality using the CSHQ-Autism

BACKGROUND

Sleep problems are common in autistic children and adversely impact daytime functioning. The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) [39] was developed from a community-based sample of children and has validated a cut-off score of 41. Katz et al. [50] developed an abbreviated 23-item four-factor version of the CSHQ, which may be useful when assessing sleep in autistic children. However, a cut-off value has not yet been developed.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to develop and validate a cut-off for the CSHQ-autism total score in order to identify sleep problems among autistic children. We hypothesized that the derived cut-off value for the CSHQ-autism would perform better than the original CSHQ cut at 41 on validation in a sample of autistic children.

METHODS

Age-specific cut-off values were developed and validated using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS

The derived cut-off values for the CSHQ-autism total score were 34, 35, 33, and 35 for the 2-3, 4-10, 11-17, and 2-17 years age groups, respectively. On validation, all cut-off values performed with moderate to high sensitivity (76.6-82.4%) and moderate specificity (69.1-75.5%), while the original CSHQ cut at 41 had high sensitivity (89.9-93.0%) but low specificity (42.6-57.7%). Using McNemar's tests, the CSHQ-autism had significantly higher specificity but lower sensitivity than the original CSHQ cut at 41 in all age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The CSHQ-autism cut-off values performed better overall than the original CSHQ cut at 41 in a sample of autistic children. The CSHQ-autism cut-off can help identify sleep problems among autistic children.

Morning and evening salivary cortisol levels in patients with chronic widespread pain and those at high risk

BACKGROUND

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation has been implicated in chronic widespread pain (CWP); the hallmark of fibromyalgia (FM). This is the first study to compare HPA axis changes in individuals with CWP and those at high risk of symptom development.

METHODS

We sought to determine differences in morning and evening salivary cortisol levels in FM (n = 19), those at-risk (n = 20) and pain-free controls (n = 17). Risk factors included non-CWP pain, somatic symptoms, illness behaviour and sleep disturbance. We conducted the study in the absence of centrally acting medication, to address limitations of previous research.

RESULTS

Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects of group (p = 0.003), and time of day (p = 0.002), with no significant interaction. Cortisol levels were higher in FM (p = 0.027) and at-risk (p = 0.003) groups, compared to controls, but there was no significant difference between FM and at-risk groups. The main effect of group remained significant with sleep problems (p = 0.021) and life events (p = 0.007), but was not significant with anxiety (p = 0.076) or depression (p = 0.098) scores as covariates. With sleep problems as a covariate, cortisol levels remained significantly higher only in the at-risk group (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates elevated salivary cortisol in FM and those at high risk, and identifies anxiety, depression and sleep problems as potential contributing factors. The results shed light on the dynamic relationship between stress, mood and sleep disorders and the brain's resilience to pain.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study examines neurobiological changes in chronic widespread pain and high risk individuals. One strength of the study is the absence of centrally acting medication. We found high salivary cortisol common to Fibromyalgia and those at risk and identified contributing factors. Our results offer insight into the early mechanistic changes underlying Fibromyalgia development and open up possibilities for early diagnosis and prevention.

Modification of Diurnal Cortisol Secretion in Women's Professional Basketball. A Pilot Study

Elite basketball training causes high levels of physiological stress, which can lead to negative physiological disorders in female athletes. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of physical activity on the rhythm of salivary cortisol secretion in elite female basketball players over one week. The population sample included 9 women professional basketball players. The control group was made up of 9 women who did not do any exercise. Saliva samples were collected from all participants at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. on training days. Samples from the basketball group showed a significantly higher cortisol secretion. Moreover, from the second night, the pattern of cortisol secretion of these players was reversed, showing higher levels of cortisol in saliva at night than in the morning. The results suggest that the secretion rhythm changed over the course of the week and according to competitive demands.

The role of sleep disorders in cardiovascular diseases: Culprit or accomplice?

Sleep disorders frequently comorbid with several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), attracting increasing scientific attention and interest. Sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, restless legs syndrome, etc. It is well known that inflammation, sympathetic activation, and endothelial dysfunction play critical roles in sleep disorders, all of which are predisposing factors for CVDs. The comorbidity of sleep disorders and CVDs may have a bidirectional relationship. Patients with CVDs may have a high incidence of sleep disorders and vice versa. This review focused on the comorbidity of sleep disorders and CVDs and discussed the potential pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. In addition to the existing mechanisms, this review summarized novel potential mechanisms underlying comorbidities, such as gut microbiota, orexin, and extracellular vesicles, which may provide a theoretical basis for further basic research and clinical investigations on improving therapeutic outcomes.

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Sleep via the Dopamine System of the HPA Axis in Rats after Cage Change

Background

Insomnia is often related to stressful events. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is related to stress, and dopamine (DA) and DA receptors are involved in the regulation of HPA axis. Electroacupuncture (EA) can improve sleep in individuals with insomnia, but the mechanism is unclear. We demonstrated that EA can improve sleep in rats after cage change through DA and the DA receptors in the HPA axis.

Methods

A rat model of insomnia was established by cage change to a dirty cage. The rats in treatment groups were intervened by EA and D1R (or D2R) antagonists. Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) were recorded to compare the changes in sleep. The DA, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol (CORT) levels in the plasma and hypothalamus were measured by ELISAs, and the D1R and D2R levels were measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

Results

The dirty group showed a significant increase in the amount of wakefulness and decrease in the amount of NREM sleep, with decreased numbers of long NREM sleep bouts and REM sleep bouts and increased mean duration of wakefulness during the light period. EA and D1R (or D2R) antagonists intervention could improve sleep disturbance by decreasing wakefulness in the light period after cage change, EA and D1R (or D2R) antagonists could increase the hypothalamus DA, CRH, ACTH, CORT level, and the D1R and D2R mRNA levels in the HPA axis, and the effect of EA plus D1R (or D2R) antagonist was not superior to that of EA or D1R (or D2R) antagonists alone.

Conclusions

EA can improve the sleep of rats after cage change, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of DA and D1R or D2R in the HPA axis.

Sleep misestimation among older adults suffering from insomnia with short and normal objective sleep duration and the effects of cognitive behavior therapy

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Compare the degree of sleep misestimation in older adults with insomnia presenting with objectively short relative to normal sleep duration, and investigate the differential therapeutic response on sleep misestimation between the proposed sleep duration phenotypes to cognitive-behavior therapy for insomnia (CBTi).

METHODS

Ninety-one adults (male = 43, mean age = 63.34, SD = 6.41) with sleep maintenance insomnia were classified as short sleepers (SS; <6 h total sleep time [TST]) or normal sleepers (NS; ≥6 h TST) based on one night of home-based polysomnography. Participants were randomly allocated to CBTi (N = 30 SS, N = 33 NS) or to a wait-list control condition (N = 9 SS, N = 19 NS). Sleep misestimation was calculated as the difference scores of subjective (sleep diary reported) and objective (derived from actigraphy) sleep onset latency (SOL), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and TST at pre- and post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Prior to treatment, perception of SOL, WASO, and TST did not differ between patients with objectively short sleep duration relative to those with objectively normal sleep duration. Patients' perception of WASO and TST, improved immediately following treatment and at 3-month follow-up relative to the waitlist group. These improvements did not differ significantly between those with short or normal objective sleep duration prior to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The degree of sleep misestimation is similar for older adults suffering from chronic insomnia with short or normal objective sleep duration. Irrespective of objective sleep duration prior to treatment, CBTi produces significant improvements in sleep perception.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12620000883910.

Sleep-wake regulation in preterm and term infants

Study Objectives

In adults, wakefulness can be markedly prolonged at the expense of sleep, e.g. to stay vigilant in the presence of a stressor. These extra-long wake bouts result in a heavy-tailed distribution (highly right-skewed) of wake but not sleep durations. In infants, the relative importance of wakefulness and sleep are reversed, as sleep is necessary for brain maturation. Here, we tested whether these developmental pressures are associated with the unique regulation of sleep–wake states.

Methods

In 175 infants of 28–40 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), we monitored sleep–wake states using electroencephalography and behavior. We constructed survival models of sleep–wake bout durations and the effect of PMA and other factors, including stress (salivary cortisol), and examined whether sleep is resilient to nociceptive perturbations (a clinically necessary heel lance).

Results

Wake durations followed a heavy-tailed distribution as in adults and lengthened with PMA and stress. However, differently from adults, active sleep durations also had a heavy-tailed distribution, and with PMA, these shortened and became vulnerable to nociception-associated awakenings.

Conclusions

Sleep bouts are differently regulated in infants, with especially long active sleep durations that could consolidate this state’s maturational functions. Curtailment of sleep by stress and nociception may be disadvantageous, especially for preterm infants given the limited value of wakefulness at this age. This could be addressed by environmental interventions in the future.

Eat, Train, Sleep-Retreat? Hormonal Interactions of Intermittent Fasting, Exercise and Circadian Rhythm

The circadian rhythmicity of endogenous metabolic and hormonal processes is controlled by a complex system of central and peripheral pacemakers, influenced by exogenous factors like light/dark-cycles, nutrition and exercise timing. There is evidence that alterations in this system may be involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. It has been shown that disruptions to normal diurnal rhythms lead to drastic changes in circadian processes, as often seen in modern society due to excessive exposure to unnatural light sources. Out of that, research has focused on time-restricted feeding and exercise, as both seem to be able to reset disruptions in circadian pacemakers. Based on these results and personal physical goals, optimal time periods for food intake and exercise have been identified. This review shows that appropriate nutrition and exercise timing are powerful tools to support, rather than not disturb, the circadian rhythm and potentially contribute to the prevention of metabolic diseases. Nevertheless, both lifestyle interventions are unable to address the real issue: the misalignment of our biological with our social time.

Decreased activity in the reward network of chronic insomnia patients

In modern society, many people have insomnia. Chronic insomnia has been noted as a risk factor for depression. However, there are few functional imaging studies of the brain on affective functions in chronic insomnia. This study aimed to investigate brain activities induced by emotional stimuli in chronic insomnia patients. Fifteen patients with primary insomnia and 30 age and gender matched healthy controls participated in this study. Both groups were presented images of fearful, happy, and neutral expressions consciously and non-consciously while undergoing MRI to compare the activity in regions of the brain responsible for emotions. Conscious presentation of the Happy-Neutral contrast showed significantly lower activation in the right orbitofrontal cortex of patients compared to healthy controls. The Happy-Neutral contrast presented in a non-conscious manner resulted in significantly lower activation of the ventral striatum, right insula, putamen, orbitofrontal cortex and ventral tegmental area in patients compared to healthy controls. Our findings revealed that responsiveness to positive emotional stimuli were decreased in insomniac patients. Specifically, brain networks associated with rewards and processing positive emotions showed decreased responsiveness to happy emotions especially for non-conscious image. The magnitude of activity in these areas also correlated with severity of insomnia, even after controlling for depression scale scores. These findings suggest that insomnia induces an affective functional disorder through an underlying mechanism of decreased sensitivity in the regions of the brain responsible for emotions and rewards to positive emotional stimuli.

Hair Cortisol Concentration as a Biomarker of Sleep Quality and Related Disorders

Cortisol is the end product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and its production is increased mainly in stressful situations or in chronic disorders accompanied by stress enhancement. Altered cortisol concentrations have been reported in a number of neuropsychiatric diseases and sleep disorders. Cortisol concentrations have been measured using several methods, and in several matrixes, such as blood, saliva, and urine. However, lately, hair cortisol, for several reasons, has emerged as a promising biomarker of long-term retrospective HPA activation. Several experimental approaches for cortisol measurement with the corresponding concentration reference ranges and a summary of findings from scientific literature on this field are presented. There is evidence of a close relationship between HPA functional alteration and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. Sleep disorders are the most common manifestation in several neuropsychiatric conditions, and have also been associated to cortisol alterations in both adults and children. Many studies indicate that hair cortisol constitutes a valuable tool for further contributing to existing data on salivary, plasma, or urinary cortisol concentrations in patients with sleep disorders.

Relationships among gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, challenging behaviour, comorbid psychopathology and autism spectrum disorder symptoms in children and adolescents with 15q duplication syndrome

BACKGROUND

Comorbidity is the presence of at least two disorders in one person at one time. This study examined the frequency of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, sleep problems, comorbid psychopathology, challenging behaviour and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in children and adolescents with duplication 15q syndrome (Dup15q), aged 3-17 years. This study also examined whether challenging behaviour in Dup15q is predicted by age, gender, presence of an intellectual disability, sleep problems, GI symptoms and comorbid psychopathology.

METHOD

Parental measures were completed by 101 parents of children and adolescents with Dup15q. Questionnaires were composed of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Behavior Problems Inventory - Short Form, GI Symptom Inventory, Social Communication Questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist.

RESULTS

Sleep problems (94%), GI symptoms (87%) and challenging behaviour (100%) were common comorbidities represented in the sample in this study. Significant relationships were found between challenging behaviour and the presence of co-occurring sleep problems, GI symptoms, comorbid psychopathology and ASD symptoms. Further analysis revealed that these comorbidities also predicted challenging behaviour.

CONCLUSION

This research demonstrated the importance of studying the relationships between GI symptoms, sleep problems, comorbid psychopathology, ASD symptoms and challenging behaviour in Dup15q and how these conditions can shape the Dup15q phenotype.

Insomnia May Mediate the Relationship Between Stress and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study in University Students

BACKGROUND

High perceived stress and anxiety disorders are usually comorbid with each other, with stress often sequentially preceding the development of anxiety. While prior findings showed a causal role of sleep problems in anxiety, no study has assessed the role of insomnia as a mediator in the relationship between stress and anxiety.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study on university students (n = 475, age = 21.1+2.6 years) was conducted over 3 months. Participants completed self-report measures of Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire-Mizan (LSEQ-M), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale (GAD-7), and a sociodemographic tool. The mediation effect model given by Baron and Kelly was used to determine the relationship.

RESULTS

The prevalence of insomnia and anxiety disorder was 43.6% and 21.9%, respectively. Stress was significantly associated with LSEQ-M (insomnia measure) (b = -.44, SE = 0.16, p<0.01), and high levels of anxiety (b = 0.25, SE = 0.03, p < 0.01). The indirect effect of stress on anxiety through LSEQ-M (insomnia measure) was significant (95% confidence interval [0.01, 0.04]). However, the indirect effect of anxiety on stress through LSEQ-M (insomnia measure) was non-significant (95% confidence interval [-.01, 0.04]).

CONCLUSIONS

Students having higher perceived stress levels and comorbid insomnia were also likely to have a higher anxiety level.

A Scoping Review of Anxiety in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research on anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has burgeoned in the past 15 years. Most of the research has focused on school-age children, ages 6 to 18 years. Yet, recent studies suggest that anxiety can emerge in young children, under 6 years, with ASD. This scoping review synthesized the literature on anxiety in young children with ASD. Three domains of anxiety research were reviewed: (a) prevalence/severity, phenomenology, and course; (b) correlates; and (c) treatment. Four online databases were searched from the start of the database until March 2020. Keywords pertaining to anxiety, autism, and young children were entered. The search identified 44 articles for inclusion. These studies varied with respect to sample source, informants, and measures to assess anxiety. The overall prevalence of anxiety ranged from 1.6 to 62%. Sixteen of 17 studies found that young children with ASD had higher levels of anxiety compared to various control groups. A variety of DSM anxiety symptoms and disorders were present in young children with the most common symptoms being specific, social, and generalized fears. Correlates of anxiety included sensory over-responsivity, sleep disturbance, aggression/defiance, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Three cognitive behavioral treatment studies for anxiety and one developmental intervention targeting ASD symptoms showed promise in reducing anxiety. Findings indicate an early emergence of anxiety in some children with ASD. Further research on the measurement, pathophysiology, and treatment of anxiety in early childhood is critical to improving outcomes in children with ASD. LAY SUMMARY: This scoping review synthesizes the literature on anxiety in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Results indicate that children with ASD have higher levels of anxiety than children without ASD. Potential factors that could be contributing to anxiety include sensory, sleep, and behavioral problems. Preliminary studies show that anxiety can improve with cognitive behavioral treatment. These findings suggest that research on anxiety in young children with ASD should be prioritized to improve mental health outcomes.

Neuroendocrine abnormalities associated with untreated first episode patients of major depressive disorder with comorbid obstructive sleep apnea

There are few studies that explore the relationship of neuroendocrine hormones of the HPA, HPT and HPG axes with major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim of this study is to examine neuroendocrine abnormalities and the relationship in untreated first episode patients of MDD comorbided with OSA. Polysomnography, neuroendocrine hormones were determined for 111 patients. After excluding the influences of age and BMI, phase I in non-REM sleep (N1)% increased significantly in MDD with OSA when compared with non-OSA. In the OSA group, cortisol increased and exceeded the normal standard, and for the numbers of patients exceeding the normal range, there were significant difference between two groups. In MDD with OSA, adrenocorticotropic hormone was significantly negatively correlated with slow wave sleep (SWS)%, while thyroxine was significantly correlated with phase II in non-REM sleep (N2)%, and prolactin was significantly negatively correlated with N1%. This study revealed that for untreated first episode MDD patients with OSA, the HPA axis was hyperfunctional. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone may be increased along with disturbed sleep structure and less slow-wave sleep time. Concurrently prolactin was decreased and thyroxine increased during the N1 and N2 phase of sleep.

The relationship between sleep problems and cortisol in people with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Sleep problems are linked with negative health outcomes, including coronary heart disease. Neuroendocrine dysfunction has been associated with sleep problems and may be a pathway linking sleep and ill health. Dysregulated cortisol output has observed in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), though little is known about the links between sleep and cortisol in this population at high risk of coronary disease.

METHOD

This study investigated the association between sleep problems and cortisol over the course of an ordinary day and in response to acute laboratory stress in a sample of 129 individuals with T2D. Sleep problems were assessed using the Jenkins sleep problems questionnaire. Mental stress was induced using two five-minute laboratory stress tasks: a mirror-tracing task and the Stroop color-word interference task.

RESULTS

Sleep problems were positively associated with daily cortisol area under the curve (B = 17.051, C.I. = 6.547 to 27.554, p = 0.002) adjusting for age, sex, marital status, education, household income, body mass index and smoking; suggesting that those with greater sleep problems had greater cortisol concentrations over the course of an ordinary day. Participants reporting greater sleep problems also had raised evening cortisol levels (B = 0.96, C.I. = 0.176 to 1.746, p = 0.017) in adjusted models. In the laboratory sleep problems were negatively associated with cortisol immediately post-task (B = -0.030, C.I. = -0.059 to 0.000, p = 0.048) and 45 minutes post-task (B = -0.037, C.I. = -0.072 to -0.002, p = 0.039) in fully adjusted models; indicating that those who experienced greater sleep problems had lower cortisol concentrations after stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep problems were associated with disturbances in cortisol responses to stress, as well as changes diurnal cortisol output in people with T2D. Further research is needed to assess if neuroendocrine disturbance increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in this population.

Association between 5-hydroxytryptamine gene polymorphism rs140700 and primary insomnia in Chinese population

BACKGROUND

Primary insomnia is a worldwide problem and it has a considerable negative impact on one's physical and mental health. Studies have shown that non-synonymous Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin or 5-HT) are related to primary insomnia. Previous studies have shown that 5-HT polymorphism (rs140700) is related to depression, and insomnia is often accompanied by depression and anxiety. The relationship between this site and primary insomnia is unknown. We speculated that this site may be related to primary insomnia, so we investigated the relationship between rs140700 and primary insomnia.

AIMS

To explore the relationship between the 5-HT gene polymorphism rs140700 and primary insomnia.

METHODS

In this study, we included 57 patients with primary insomnia and 54 age- and gender-matched normal controls. The subjects who belonged to the Chinese population were subjected to polysomnography for three consecutive nights. Their sleep quality was assessed, and the genotypes of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) gene polymorphism rs140700 were determined by the flight mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

The genotype distributions of the 5-HT gene polymorphism rs140700 were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both patients and controls (P > 0.05). The allele and genotype distributions of this variant were comparable between the patients and controls in all subjects and between genders (all P > 0.05). The influence of rs140700 on percentage of stage 1 (P = 0.015) change and arousal index (P = 0.028) of primary insomnia was statistically significant. The logistic multi-factor regression analysis results revealed that 5-HT gene polymorphism rs140700 was not a risk factor for primary insomnia in the Chinese population (P = 0.589).

CONCLUSIONS

The 5-HT gene polymorphism rs140700 may not be a susceptibility locus for primary insomnia in the Chinese population.

Relationship between Cortisol Changes during the Night and Subjective and Objective Sleep Quality in Healthy Older People

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the nighttime cortisol release was associated with subjective and objective sleep quality and the discrepancy between them. Forty-five healthy older adults (age range from 56 to 75 years) collected salivary samples immediately before sleep and immediately after awakening on two consecutive nights. Actigraphy was used to assess objective sleep quality and quantity. A sleep diary was used to assess subjective sleep quality. Linear mixed models were performed using subjective and objective sleep quality data from 76 nights to investigate between-subject associations. We observed that larger changes in cortisol levels between sleep onset and awakening, reflecting a healthier circadian rhythm of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, were associated with better subjective sleep quality, but not with objective sleep quality. Moreover, smaller changes in nighttime cortisol were associated with lower subjective sleep quality relative to objective sleep quality. All these results were observed even after controlling for important confounders such as sleep quantity, age, sex, subjective socioeconomic status, stress perception, depression, physical activity, and adherence to the salivary sampling protocol. This study demonstrates that subjective sleep quality in older people may be explained, to some extent, by the activity of the HPA axis.

The correlation between the electroencephalographic spectral analysis and salivary cortisol rhythm in insomnia

OBJECTIVE

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects many adults either transiently or chronically. This study aimed to establish whether there is a relationship between the electroencephalographic (EEG) spectral analysis and salivary cortisol levels in insomnia and compared to healthy controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This case-control study included 15 insomnia patients and 15 healthy control subjects. Insomnia was determined according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders III diagnostic criteria. The EEG data were collected and processed with MATLAB software. Blood and salivary samples were taken for hematological and biochemical measurements. Salivary cortisol levels were calculated and compared statistically with the healthy group.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 46.5 ± 11 years. The salivary cortisol levels at 18:00 and 24:00 were found higher in the insomnia than in the healthy subjects (respectively, 0.12 (0.11) μg/dl, 0.07 (0.02) μg/dl). But this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the spectral analysis of patients between the frontal, central, and occipital channel (p > 0.05). However, in the correlation between the frontal channel spectral analysis and at the 24:00 salivary cortisol of patient and control group, DeltaGmax (p = 0.002), DeltaGmean (p = 0.019) and, in the correlation with 18:00 salivary cortisol DeltaGmax (p = 0.010), were positively correlated.

CONCLUSION

In this study, no significant difference was found in spectral analysis and salivary cortisol levels in insomnia patients, but at 18:00 and 24:00, cortisol levels were correlated positively with theta and delta waves in EEG spectral analysis in some channels.

Acute and Chronic Insomnia: What Has Time and/or Hyperarousal Got to Do with It?

Nearly one-third of the population reports new onset or acute insomnia in a given year. Similarly, it is estimated that approximately 10% of the population endorses sleep initiation and maintenance problems consistent with diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia. For decades, acute and chronic insomnia have been considered variations of the same condition or disorder, only really differentiated in terms of chronicity of symptoms (days/weeks versus months). Whether or not acute and chronic insomnia are part of the same phenomena is an important question, one that has yet to be empirically evaluated. The goal of the present theoretical review was to summarize the definitions of acute and chronic insomnia and discuss the role that hyperarousal may have in explaining how the pathophysiology of acute and chronic insomnia is likely different (i.e., what biopsychological factors precipitate and/or perpetuate acute insomnia, chronic insomnia, or both?).

Sleep Health and Serious Psychological Distress: A Nationally Representative Study of the United States among White, Black, and Hispanic/Latinx Adults

PURPOSE

Prior studies investigating the relationship between sleep and serious psychological distress (SPD) have lacked racial/ethnic diversity and generalizability. We investigated associations between sleep and SPD among a large, nationally representative, and racially/ethnically diverse sample of US adults.

METHODS

We pooled cross-sectional data from the 2004 to 2017 National Health Interview Survey. Participants self-reported sleep duration and sleep disturbances (eg, trouble falling and staying asleep). SPD was defined as a Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) score ≥13. Adjusting for sociodemographic, health behavior, and clinical characteristics, we used Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of SPD for each sleep characteristic, overall and by race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

Among 316,840 participants, the mean age ± standard error was 46.9 ± 0.1 years, 52% were women, 75% were non-Hispanic (NH)-White, 16% NH-Black, and 9% Hispanic/Latinx. The prevalence of SPD was 3.4% for NH-Whites, 4.1% for NH-Blacks, and 4.5% for Hispanics/Latinxs. Participants with <7 hours versus 7-9 hours of sleep duration were more likely to have SPD, and the magnitude of the association was strongest among NH-Black participants (PR_NH-Blacks=3.50 [95% CI: 2.97-4.13], PR _{Hispanics/Latinx}=2.95 [2.42-3.61], and PR_NH-Whites=2.66 [2.44-2.89]). Positive associations between sleep disturbances and SPD were generally stronger among NH-Black and Hispanic/Latinx compared to NH-White adults.

CONCLUSION

Poor sleep health was positively associated with SPD, and the magnitude of the association was generally stronger among racial/ethnic minorities. Future investigations should prospectively focus on the determinants and health consequences of SPD attributable to objectively measured sleep across racial/ethnic groups.

Associations Among Trajectories of Sleep Disturbance, Depressive Symptomology and 24-Hour Urinary Cortisol in HIV+ Women Following a Stress Management Intervention

Objective: The burden of sleep disturbance and depressive symptomology is high for persons living with HIV and particularly so for women. While cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) is shown to reduce symptoms of depression and 24-hr urinary free cortisol output (CORT) in HIV+ men, less is known about the effects of CBSM on mood and concomitant sleep disturbance in HIV+ women. The study aim is to model longitudinal change in sleep disturbance, depressive symptomology, and CORT for HIV+ women exposed to a 12-week CBSM intervention or control condition. Methods: Self-reported sleep quality and depressive symptomology, along with CORT, was collected from surveys at baseline and approximately every three months thereafter for nine months from 130 HIV+ women (M_age = 38.44, SD = 7.73). The data was used to specify a parallel process latent growth model with CORT as a time-varying covariate. Results: The model showed acceptable fit. There was a linear decline in sleep disturbance (β = -0.32, p < .05) and logarithmic decline in depressive symptomology (β = -0.33, p < .05) for those receiving the intervention. Decline in sleep disturbance predicted lower CORT at nine months. Furthermore, having less depressive symptoms at baseline was associated with lower initial levels of sleep disturbance and greater improvement in sleep quality over time. There was no discernible association between sleep and mood disturbance in the control group. Across groups, there was a consistent association between older age and greater sleep disturbance (r = 0.34, p < .01). Conclusion: Sleep disturbance appears to be a behavioral target for CBSM in HIV+ women although older age, preintervention levels of depressive mood, and time-varying levels of CORT output may limit improvement in sleep quality over time.

Modification of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sleep problems are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and adversely impact daytime functioning. Although no questionnaires have been developed to assess sleep in children with ASD, the 33-item Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) is widely used in this population. We examined the factor structure of the CSHQ in 2872 children (age 4-10 years) enrolled in the Autism Treatment Network. A four-factor solution (Sleep Initiation and Duration, Sleep Anxiety/Co-Sleeping, Night Waking/Parasomnias, and Daytime Alertness) with 5-6 items per factor explained 75% of the total variation. Ten items failed to load on any factor. This abbreviated 23-item four-factor version of this measure may be useful when assessing sleep in children with ASD.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a biomarker for subjective insomnia but not objectively assessable poor sleep continuity

OBJECTIVES

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a central mediator of the effects of stress on neuronal plasticity. Patients with subjective insomnia have significantly lower serum BDNF (sBDNF) levels. The aims of the present study were to investigate the associations of sBDNF with, 1) subjective and 2) objective sleep; 3) to investigate the associations between dimensions of psychopathology, subjective sleep and sBDNF, and 4) to investigate the associations between insomnia, sBDNF and cortisol.

METHODS

60 patients with insomnia (IG; mean age: 40.4 years; 48.3% females) and 30 healthy, age and gender-matched controls (CG) took part in the study. Subjective sleep was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), objective sleep was assessed once via sleep-EEG recordings. Both sBDNF and salivary cortisol were sampled once the following morning. Last, experts rated participants' symptoms of depression and anxiety.

RESULTS

sBDNF was significantly lower in the IG than in the CG (large effect size; Hedge's g = 1.75), while higher insomnia scores, but not depression or anxiety ratings, predicted lower sBDNF levels. Concerning objective sleep, low sBDNF did not correlate with sleep continuity measures, but with decreased REM-sleep; the latter was also characteristic of the IG. sBDNF and salivary morning cortisol were unrelated.

CONCLUSIONS

Independently of symptoms of depression or anxiety, sBDNF appears to be a biomarker for the clinical diagnosis of insomnia, but not for objectively assessed poor sleep continuity. A possible link between sBDNF and insomnia seems to be via regulation of REM-sleep, but not salivary morning cortisol.