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Camaioni M, Scarpelli S, Alfonsi V, Gorgoni M, Calzolari R, De Bartolo M, Mangiaruga A, Couyoumdjian A, De Gennaro L. How COVID-19 Affected Sleep Talking Episodes, Sleep and Dreams? Brain Sci 2024; 14:486. [PMID: 38790464 PMCID: PMC11119596 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic increased symptoms of stress and anxiety and induced changes in sleep quality, dream activity, and parasomnia episodes. It has been shown that stressful factors and/or bad sleep habits can affect parasomnia behaviors. However, investigations on how COVID-19 has affected sleep, dreams, and episode frequency in parasomnias are rare. The current study focuses on the impact of the pandemic on a specific parasomnia characterized by speech production (sleep talking, ST). METHODS We selected 27 participants with frequent ST episodes (STs) during the pandemic and compared them with 27 participants with frequent STs from a previous study conducted during a pre-pandemic period. All participants performed home monitoring through sleep logs and recorded their nocturnal STs for one week. RESULTS We observed a higher frequency of STs in the pandemic group. Moreover, STs were related to the emotional intensity of dreams, independent of the pandemic condition. The pandemic was associated with lower bizarreness of dreams in the pandemic group. There were no differences in sleep variables between the two groups. CONCLUSION Overall, these results suggest a stressful effect of COVID-19 on the frequency of STs. Both the pandemic and the frequency of STs affect qualitative characteristics of dreams in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Camaioni
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Serena Scarpelli
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Valentina Alfonsi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Maurizio Gorgoni
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
- Body and Action Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossana Calzolari
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Mina De Bartolo
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Anastasia Mangiaruga
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandro Couyoumdjian
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Luigi De Gennaro
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
- Body and Action Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
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Roland A, Windal M, Briganti G, Kornreich C, Mairesse O. Intensity and Network Structure of Insomnia Symptoms and the Role of Mental Health During the First Two Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nat Sci Sleep 2023; 15:1003-1017. [PMID: 38059205 PMCID: PMC10697149 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s432944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Insomnia, being a mental disorder, is best conceived as a network of symptoms. With the important increase in insomnia prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic, our aim was to investigate how the structure of insomnia symptoms in the general population has changed due to the pandemic. We also looked at the directional dependencies of nightmares and of covid- and lockdown-related stress/anxiety and depression in insomnia. Patients and Methods 5986 persons replied to our online questionnaire for the first wave and 2843 persons to our second wave questionnaire. Both questionnaires included the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Regularized Gaussian Graphical Models (GGM) and Bayesian Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG) were estimated. Results The pre- and peri-lockdown networks were equally strongly connected (first wave: S = 0.13, p = 0.39; second wave: S = 0.03, p = 0.67), but differed for the first lockdown regarding only six edges (M = 0.13, p < 0.001) and for the second lockdown only five edges (M = 0.16, p < 0.001). These symptoms all worsened during the lockdowns in comparison to before the pandemic (p < 0.001). The diurnal items of the ISI had the highest predictability and centrality values in the GGMs. Lockdown-related stress/anxiety influenced indirectly nightmares through covid-related stress/anxiety, lockdown-related depressive affect and mental fatigue. These reported feelings of stress/anxiety and depression showed an indirect impact on insomnia symptoms through mental and physical fatigue. Conclusion Though the lockdown slightly intensified insomnia symptoms, it did not alter their network structure. Despite their differences, both GGMs and DAGs agree that the diurnal symptoms of the ISI, play an essential role in the network structure. Both methods confirm the need for emphasizing the cognitive/affective component in the treatment of insomnia (ie cognitive behavioral therapy).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Roland
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Brussels University Consultation Center, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maxime Windal
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Psychology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Briganti
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Médicale et Addictologie, CHU/UVC Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Charles Kornreich
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Médicale et Addictologie, CHU/UVC Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Mairesse
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Brussels University Consultation Center, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Médicale et Addictologie, CHU/UVC Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium
- Vital Signs and PERformance Monitoring (VIPER), LIFE Department, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
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Scarpelli S, Alfonsi V, Camaioni M, Gorgoni M, Albano A, Musetti A, Quattropani MC, Plazzi G, De Gennaro L, Franceschini C. Longitudinal Findings on the Oneiric Activity Changes Across the Pandemic. Nat Sci Sleep 2023; 15:435-447. [PMID: 37313311 PMCID: PMC10259600 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s410732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose COVID-19 pandemic waves have strongly influenced individuals' behaviors and mental health. Here, we analyzed longitudinal data collected in the Spring 2020 and 2021 from a large Italian sample with the aim of assessing changes in dream features between the first and third wave. Specifically, we evaluated the modifications of pandemic dream activity as a function of the general distress variations over time. Also, we detected the best explanatory variables of nightmare frequency and distress. Materials and Methods Participants previously involved in the web survey during the first wave of the pandemic were asked to complete a new online survey on sleep and dream features available in Spring 2021 (N=728). Subjects decreasing their level of psychological general distress in the third (T3) vs the first (T1) pandemic wave were defined as "Improved" (N=330). In contrast, participants with an unchanged or increased level of general distress were defined as "Not Improved" (N=398). Results Statistical comparisons revealed that dream recall frequency, nightmare frequency, lucid dream frequency, and emotional intensity show a reduction in T3 than T1. Moreover, the Improved group is characterized by lower nightmare rate and nightmare distress than Not Improved people. Our findings confirmed that beyond the trait-like variables (ie, age, sex), specific sleep-related measures are related to nightmare features. In particular, poor sleep hygiene was one of the best determinants of nightmare distress among Not Improved subjects. Conclusion Our findings revealed that people experienced an adaptation to the pandemic during the third wave. We also strengthen the notion that nightmares and their variations over time are strongly related to human well-being, suggesting that specific trait-like and sleep-related factors could modulate the relationship between mental health and nightmare features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Scarpelli
- Department of Psychology, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Milena Camaioni
- Department of Psychology, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Gorgoni
- Department of Psychology, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy
- Body and Action Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Albano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandro Musetti
- Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Maria Catena Quattropani
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Plazzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luigi De Gennaro
- Department of Psychology, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy
- Body and Action Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Christian Franceschini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Rapelli G, Varallo G, Scarpelli S, Pietrabissa G, Musetti A, Plazzi G, Franceschini C, Castelnuovo G. The long wave of COVID-19: a case report using Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for COVID-19-related nightmares after admission to intensive care unit. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1144087. [PMID: 37275716 PMCID: PMC10232986 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1144087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic caused several psychological consequences for the general population. In particular, long-term and persistent psychopathological detriments were observed in those who were infected by acute forms of the virus and need specialistic care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) has shown promising results in managing nightmares of patients with different traumas, but it has never been used with patients admitted to ICUs for severe COVID-19 despite this experience being considered traumatic in the literature. Methods The purpose of this case study is to describe the application of a four-session IRT for the treatment of COVID-related nightmares in a female patient after admission to the ICU. A 42-year-old Caucasian woman who recovered from a pulmonary rehabilitation program reported shortness of breath, dyspnea, and everyday life difficulties triggered by the long-COVID syndrome. She showed COVID-related nightmares and signs of post-traumatic symptoms (i.e., hyperarousal, nightmares, and avoidance of triggers associated with the traumatic situation). Psychological changes in the aftermath of a trauma, presence, and intensity of daytime sleepiness, dream activity, sleep disturbances, aspects of sleep and dreams, and symptoms of common mental health status are assessed as outcomes at the baseline (during the admission to pneumology rehabilitation) at 1-month (T1) and 3-month follow-up (T2). Follow-up data were collected through an online survey. Results By using IRT principles and techniques, the patient reported a decrease in the intensity and frequency of bad nightmares, an increase in the quality of sleep, and post-traumatic growth, developing a positive post-discharge. Conclusion Imagery rehearsal therapy may be effective for COVID-19-related nightmares and in increasing the quality of sleep among patients admitted to the ICU for the treatment of COVID-19. Furthermore, IRT could be useful for its brevity in hospital settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Rapelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Varallo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Serena Scarpelli
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza—University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Pietrabissa
- Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
| | - Alessandro Musetti
- Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Plazzi
- IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna (ISNB), Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca Castelnuovo
- Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
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The interplay between emotion dysregulation, psychological distress, emotional eating, and weight status: A path model. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2023; 23:100338. [PMID: 36199369 PMCID: PMC9512843 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2022.100338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/objective Methods Results Conclusions
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Subjective sleep alterations in healthy subjects worldwide during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression. Sleep Med 2022; 100:89-102. [PMID: 36029756 PMCID: PMC9364714 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide an update on sleep quality in different world areas and better characterize subjective sleep alterations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering gender distribution and specific pandemic-related parameters, we also intend to identify significant predictors of sleep problems. METHODS Six electronic databases were searched from December 2019 to November 2021 for studies investigating sleep during COVID-19 employing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep, the Insomnia Severity Index or the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Random-effects models were implemented to estimate the pooled raw means of subjective sleep alterations. Also, we considered the role of several pandemic-related parameters (i.e., days from the first COVID-19 case, government stringency index, new cases for a million people, new deaths for a million people) by means of meta-regression analyses. RESULTS A total of 139 studies were selected. The pooled mean of the global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (PSQIgen) was 6.73 (95% CI, 6.61-6.85). The insomnia severity index score was reported from 50 studies with a pooled mean of 8.44 (95% CI, 7.53-9.26). Subgroup analyses confirmed that most subcategories had poor sleep quality and subclinical insomnia. Meta-regressions showed that PSQIgen was predicted by days from the first COVID-19 case and government restrictions with a negative slope and by female gender with a positive slope. The government stringency index was positively correlated with the direct subjective evaluation of sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS We found an overall impaired sleep and widespread subthreshold insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The female percentage seems to be the best predictor of impaired sleep quality, consistently to the available literature. Noteworthy, sleep alterations were inversely associated with governmental restrictions and decreased during the pandemic. Our results give a contribution to critically orienting further studies on sleep since COVID-19 pandemic.
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Margherita G, Caffieri A. An observatory on changes in dreaming during a pandemic: a living systematic review (part 1). J Sleep Res 2022; 32:e13742. [PMID: 36320190 PMCID: PMC9877779 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A 'new' way of dreaming has emerged during the pandemic, enhancing the interest of psychological literature. Indeed, during the years of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many studies have investigated dream-related phenomena and dreaming functions. Considering the constant and rapid emergence of new results on this topic, the main aim of this study was to create an 'observatory' on the short- and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on dreaming, by means of a living systematic review. The baseline results are presented, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement guidelines, to identify and discuss existing studies about dreams and dreaming during the COVID-19 pandemic published until February 2022. Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, and PubMed were used for the search strategy, yielding 71 eligible papers included in the review. Our results show: (a) a more intense oneiric activity during lockdown; (b) changes in dreaming components (especially dream-recall and nightmare frequency); (c) a particular dreaming scenario ('pandemic dreams'); (d) an alteration of the dreaming-waking-life continuum and a specific function of dreaming as emotional regulator. Findings suggest that monitoring changes in dreaming provides important information about psychological health and could also contribute to the debate on the difficulties of dreaming, as well as sleeping, in particular during and after a period of 'collective trauma'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Margherita
- Department of Humanistic StudiesUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
| | - Alessia Caffieri
- Department of Humanistic StudiesUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
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Dreaming during the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104710. [PMID: 35643121 PMCID: PMC9132492 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
According to several influential models, dreams can be affected by state- and trait-like factors, sleep features, and diurnal experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic globally affected daily habits, emotional experiences, and sleep. Previous studies suggested an influence of collective traumatic events on dreaming. Starting from these premises, several studies assessed the effect of the pandemic on dreams. This paper aims to review findings concerning the oneiric activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. We report pandemic-related changes in dreams and nightmares, and we consider the possible factors associated with dreaming. Moreover, we provide results about changes in the oneiric activity in different phases of the pandemic. The reviewed findings suggest a pandemic-related enhancement of dream and nightmare frequency, emotional intensity, and distressing contents, modulated by modifications in restrictive measures and associated with diurnal experiences, emotional status, and sleep pattern. We highlight several methodological issues and a large heterogeneity in the present literature, limiting results’ generalizability. However, we provide possible interpretations of the most consistent findings in light of the main theoretical frameworks about dreaming.
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Scarpelli S, Alfonsi V, Gorgoni M, De Gennaro L. What about dreams? State of the art and open questions. J Sleep Res 2022; 31:e13609. [PMID: 35417930 PMCID: PMC9539486 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have tried to identify the neurobiological bases of dream experiences, nevertheless some questions are still at the centre of the debate. Here, we summarise the main open issues concerning the neuroscientific study of dreaming. After overcoming the rapid eye movement (REM) ‐ non‐REM (NREM) sleep dichotomy, investigations have focussed on the specific functional or structural brain features predicting dream experience. On the one hand, some results underlined that specific trait‐like factors are associated with higher dream recall frequency. On the other hand, the electrophysiological milieu preceding dream report upon awakening is a crucial state‐like factor influencing the subsequent recall. Furthermore, dreaming is strictly related to waking experiences. Based on the continuity hypothesis, some findings reveal that dreaming could be modulated through visual, olfactory, or somatosensory stimulations. Also, it should be considered that the indirect access to dreaming remains an intrinsic limitation. Recent findings have revealed a greater concordance between parasomnia‐like events and dream contents. This means that parasomnia episodes might be an expression of the ongoing mental sleep activity and could represent a viable direct access to dream experience. Finally, we provide a picture on nightmares and emphasise the possible role of oneiric activity in psychotherapy. Overall, further efforts in dream science are needed (a) to develop a uniform protocol to study dream experience, (b) to introduce and integrate advanced techniques to better understand whether dreaming can be manipulated, (c) to clarify the relationship between parasomnia events and dreaming, and (d) to determine the clinical valence of dreams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Scarpelli
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Gorgoni
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Body and Action Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi De Gennaro
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Body and Action Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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Li B, Zhang D, Verkhratsky A. Astrocytes in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:953-965. [PMID: 35349095 PMCID: PMC8960712 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00845-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is on the rise, traumatic events and their consequences are often hidden or minimized by patients for reasons linked to PTSD itself. Traumatic experiences can be broadly classified into mental stress (MS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the cellular mechanisms of MS- or TBI-induced PTSD remain unknown. Recent evidence has shown that the morphological remodeling of astrocytes accompanies and arguably contributes to fearful memories and stress-related disorders. In this review, we summarize the roles of astrocytes in the pathogenesis of MS-PTSD and TBI-PTSD. Astrocytes synthesize and secrete neurotrophic, pro- and anti-inflammatory factors and regulate the microenvironment of the nervous tissue through metabolic pathways, ionostatic control, and homeostatic clearance of neurotransmitters. Stress or trauma-associated impairment of these vital astrocytic functions contribute to the pathophysiological evolution of PTSD and may present therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoman Li
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Dianjun Zhang
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China.
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 01102, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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The Oneiric Activity during and after the COVID-19 Total Lockdown in Italy: A Longitudinal Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19073857. [PMID: 35409540 PMCID: PMC8997831 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic affected oneiric activity. However, only a few studies have assessed the longitudinal changes in dream phenomenology during different phases of the pandemic, often focused on a limited number of dream variables. The aim of the present study was to provide an exhaustive assessment of dream features during total lockdown (TL) and a post-lockdown (PL) period characterized by eased restrictive measures in Italy. We performed a longitudinal study using a web-based survey to collect demographic, COVID-19 related, clinical, sleep, and dream data at TL and PL. Our final sample included 108 participants. The high frequency of poor sleep quality, anxiety, and depressive symptoms observed during TL remained stable at PL, while sleep latency (t = −4.09; p < 0.001) and PTSD-related disruptive nocturnal behaviors (t = −5.68; p < 0.001) exhibited a reduction at PL. A PL decrease in time spent with digital media was observed (t = −2.77; p = 0.007). We found a strong PL reduction in dream frequency (t = −5.49; p < 0.001), emotional load (t = −2.71; p = 0.008), vividness (t = −4.90; p < 0.001), bizarreness (t = −4.05; p < 0.001), length (t = −4.67; p < 0.001), and lucid dream frequency (t = −2.40; p = 0.018). Fear was the most frequently reported emotion in dreams at TL (26.9%) and PL (22.2%). Only the frequency of specific lockdown-related dream contents exhibited a reduction at PL. These findings highlight that the end of the home confinement had a strong impact on the oneiric activity, in the direction of reduced dream frequency, intensity, and lockdown-related contents. The co-occurrence of such changes with a decline in nocturnal PTSD-related symptoms, sleep latency, and time with digital media suggests an influence of post-traumatic stress levels, lifestyle modifications, and sleep pattern on dream changes during different phases of the pandemic. The stable prevalence of fear in dreams and the large frequency of poor sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and anxiety are probably related to the persistence of many negative consequences of the pandemic. Overall, these results are consistent with the continuity hypothesis of dreams.
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