Psychological correlates of insomnia in professional soccer players: An exploratory study

Sleep promotes health, well-being, recovery and athletic performance. As a consequence, sleep problems in athletes may have detrimental effects. Previous investigations showed that professional athletes often reported to suffer of poor sleep quality and insomnia (e.g. difficulties falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep). However, psychological variables exacerbating and maintaining insomnia in professional athletes as well as its mechanistic pathways are still largely unknown. Available literature mostly focused on effects of sport-related variables, such as evening training and stimulant consumption on athletes' sleep. Instead, the contribution of cognitive and emotional variables globally associated with insomnia in athletes in clinical models has been largely neglected. To address these limitations, this study explored the associations between emotional experience, pre-sleep arousal, pre-sleep worry and rumination and insomnia severity in a sample of 210 (25.93 ± 6.68 years) male professional soccer players. Bivariate correlations, multiple regression, and structural equation modelling with manifest variables (path analysis) were computed. Results showed that insomnia severity was associated with stimulants consumption, pre-sleep arousal, negative emotions, positive emotions, and pre-sleep worry/rumination (all p < .05). Path analysis showed that relationship between stimulant consumption, emotional experience, worry/rumination and insomnia was mediated by pre-sleep arousal (p < .05). Our results suggest that preventive and interventional studies in professional soccer players would benefit from considering global cognitive-emotional variables as targets of interventions.HighlightsInsomnia was associated with greater stimulants consumption, pre-sleep arousal, negative emotions, pre-sleep worry/rumination, and lower positive emotions.Path analysis showed that pre-sleep arousal mediated the relationship between stimulant consumption, emotional experience, worry/rumination and insomnia severity.Cognitive-emotional and behavioural factors as well as sport-related variables were important predictors of insomnia in professional soccer players.

[Ionizing radiation absorbed by the patient]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the skin contact dose to which the patient is exposed during an endo-oral radiography using the long cone technique (paralleling technique) and the short cone technique (bisecting angle technique). Measures were taken in 50 dental X-ray units with a range of tension from 50 to 70 Kvs. Measures were taken using a calcium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeter (CaF2:Dy). Data are expressed in uGy/mA.sec., divided in relation to the tension's values and the kind of technique used. This study reveals that the bisecting technique presents higher doses (2-3 times higher) than the long cone technique (paralleling technique).

[Clinical evaluation of anesthesia using iontophoresis for pain control during scaling]

A double blind study, cross-over in the same subjects compares the clinical efficacy of anesthetic application with iontophoresis versus placebo in the control of pain during scaling. None of ten subjects reported pain during scaling after iontophoresis with anesthetic, while six of ten reported pain after iontophoresis with placebo.

[Patients on anticoagulant therapy. Interpretation of a new test]

In the present study a new test for the monitoring the efficacy of anticoagulant therapy in patients at risk of cardiovascular thrombosis has been described. The dentist approach to anticoagulant-treated patients undergoing oral surgery has been evaluated.