The DOI matches its Crossref record; 157 of the 158 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Sleep and anxiety: From mechanisms to interventions
Abstract
Anxiety is the most common mental health problem worldwide. Epidemiological studies show that sleep disturbances, particularly insomnia, affect ∼50% of individuals with anxiety, and that insufficient sleep can instigate or further exacerbate it. This review outlines brain mechanisms underlying sleep and anxiety, by addressing recent human functional/structural imaging studies on brain networks underlying the anxiogenic impact of sleep loss, and the beneficial effect of sleep on these brain networks. We discuss recent developments from human molecular imaging studies that highlight the role of specific brain neurotransmitter mechanisms, such as the adenosinergic receptor system, on anxiety, arousal, and sleep. This review further discusses frontline sleep interventions aimed at enhancing sleep in individuals experiencing anxiety, such as nonbenzodiazepines/antidepressants, lifestyle and sleep interventions and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Notwithstanding therapeutic success, up to ∼30% of individuals with anxiety can be nonresponsive to frontline treatments. Thus, we address novel non-invasive brain stimulation techniques that can enhance electroencephalographic slow waves, and might help alleviate sleep and anxiety symptoms. Collectively, these findings contribute to an emerging biological framework that elucidates the interrelationship between sleep and anxiety, and highlight the prospect of slow wave sleep as a potential therapeutic target for reducing anxiety.
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In the citing paper
“Cognitive models of insomnia and emerging data linking circadian factors to affective dysregulation suggest how pre-sleep anxiety amplifies threat monitoring and hyperarousal, thereby delaying sleep initiation [3,4].”
From Pre-Sleep Anxiety: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches in Clinical Practice. (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
In the citing paper
“The condition is often accompanied by mental distress and physical tension, further compounding sleep difficulty [3].”
From Pre-Sleep Anxiety: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches in Clinical Practice. (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
In the citing paper
“Sleep onset anxiety, a heightened state of worry and cognitive arousal occurring during the transition to sleep, functions as a transdiagnostic symptom cluster that increases vulnerability to insomnia rather than constituting a standalone disorder [3].”
From Pre-Sleep Anxiety: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches in Clinical Practice. (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
In the citing paper
“Sleep onset anxiety commonly occurs with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [3].”
From Pre-Sleep Anxiety: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches in Clinical Practice. (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
Citations
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Sleep, insomnia and mental health
Palagini, L., Hertenstein, E., Riemann, D. W., & Nissen, C. (2022) · Journal of Sleep Research · doi:10.1111/jsr.13628 · Cited by 360
Adenosine, caffeine, and sleep–wake regulation: state of the science and perspectives
Reichert, C. F., Deboer, T., & Landolt, H. (2022) · Journal of Sleep Research · doi:10.1111/jsr.13597 · Cited by 183
“The functional connectivity within these networks is altered in certain patients with anxiety disorders and insomnia (Chellappa & Aeschbach, 2022).”
BackgroundLong-term use of benzodiazepines in chronic insomnia: a European perspective
Soyka, M., Wild, I., Caulet, B., Leontiou, C., Lugoboni, F., & Hajak, G. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1212028 · Cited by 108
“It is known that insomnia affects around half of individuals with anxiety (97), so by using these drugs, physicians may be attempting to address both insomnia and anxiety, despite their not being licensed for insomnia, and the products being licensed for short-term relief only in the treatment of anxiety due to concer…”
BackgroundPalagini, L., Miniati, M., Caruso, V., Alfi, G., Geoffroy, P. A., Domschke, K., Riemann, D., Gemignani, A., & Pini, S. (2024) · Neuroscience Applied · doi:10.1016/j.nsa.2024.103936 · Cited by 82
Xiao, T., Pan, M., Xiao, X., & Liu, Y. (2024) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-024-02237-z · Cited by 76
Metadata
- Authors
- Chellappa, S. L., & Aeschbach, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Cologne (DE)
- University of Bonn (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Chellappa, Sarah L.
- Venue
- Sleep Medicine Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-02
- Volume
- 61
- Pages
- 101583
- ISSN
- 1087-0792 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4200462974
- Cited by
- 509
- References
- 158
- Citations by year
- 2026: 111 · 2025: 170 · 2024: 135 · 2023: 71 · 2022: 21
- FWCI
- 9.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Sleep Medicine Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Kölner Universitäts PublikationsServer (Universität zu Köln) (publishedVersion)
- elib (German Aerospace Center) (acceptedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- sleep, anxiety, insomnia, sleep deprivation, brain networks, arousal, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, antidepressants, lifestyle intervention, non-invasive brain stimulation, slow-wave sleep, sleep interventions
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Sleep, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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