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Brain Sciences
Special Issues
Sleep Disorders and COVID-19
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Sleep Disorders and COVID-19

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2021) | Viewed by 25116

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maurizio Gorgoni

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: sleep; EEG; dreaming; memory; sleepiness; healthy and pathological aging; neurodevelopmental disorders; sleep disorders; neural plasticity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Serena Scarpelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Interests: dreaming; sleep and cognition; memory and cerebral plasticity; normal and pathological aging; sleep disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Valentina Alfonsi

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: sleep; EEG; sleep onset; sleepiness; cortical stimulation; sleep and cognition; parasomnias; dreaming
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The coronavirus outbreak has upended our lives. Many states worldwide have adopted restrictive measures in order to prevent its rapid spread, leading remarkable changes in daily habits among both the general population and patients with COVID-19.

Evidence has consistently shown that forced quarantine periods have increased the risk of developing several mental disorders, especially anxiety, depression and stress disturbances.

Further, such unprecedented changes have strongly impacted our sleep routines in many different ways. Current studies on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep have depicted a complex scenario. Both detrimental and beneficial effects on sleep quality and quantity as a function of the specific aspects considered (i.e., sleep domain, pre-pandemic conditions, environmental and social factors) have been observed. A further effort is needed to disentangle the complex relation between social and environmental changes, psychological factors and sleep features during the pandemic. Moreover, evidence on sleep modifications in patients affected by coronavirus disease is still lacking.

An in-depth understanding of the COVID-19 consequences on sleep may ultimately provide insights in developing clinical strategies to manage sleep problems during the pandemic.

We welcome manuscripts (original research articles, reviews, commentaries) on the impact of the COVID-19 emergency on sleep and sleep disturbances in different populations (general population, COVID-19 patients, or healthcare staff) for this Special Issue.

Specifically, our aim is to attract papers concerning the following topics:

  1. Sleep and sleep-related features during the COVID-19 outbreak in the general population;
  2. Sleep in patients affected by coronavirus disease;
  3. Sleep in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic;
  4. Oneiric activity and COVID-19 emergency; 
  5. COVID-19 outbreak and sleep disorders;
  6. Management of sleep problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Maurizio Gorgoni
Dr. Serena Scarpelli
Dr. Valentina Alfonsi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sleep
  • COVID-19 pandemic
  • sleep disorders
  • pandemic dreams
  • pandemic nightmares
  • COVID-19 patients
  • Healthcare workers
  • lockdown

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 164 KiB  
Editorial
COVID-19 and Sleep Disturbances: Unraveling the Connection
by Valentina Alfonsi, Serena Scarpelli and Maurizio Gorgoni
Brain Sci. 2024, 14(3), 220; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci14030220 - 27 Feb 2024
Viewed by 714
Abstract
Since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a plethora of studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of this extraordinary phenomenon on sleep and mental health [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Disorders and COVID-19)

Research

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14 pages, 593 KiB  
Article
Insomnia, Pre-Sleep Arousal, Psychosocial Factors and Changes in Sleep Pattern during the Second Wave Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Georgia
by Tamar Basishvili, Nikoloz Oniani, Irine Sakhelashvili, Marine Eliozishvili, Manana Khizanashvili, Mariam Arabidze, Mariam Tsaava, Tinatini Charekishvili, Nino Tsertsvadze and Nato Darchia
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(1), 17; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci12010017 - 24 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3053
Abstract
Studies performed across the COVID-19 pandemic waves point to the persistent impact of the pandemic on sleep and mental health. We expand these data by examining insomnia, pre-sleep arousal, psychosocial factors, and retrospective changes in sleep pattern during the COVID-19 second wave lockdown [...] Read more.
Studies performed across the COVID-19 pandemic waves point to the persistent impact of the pandemic on sleep and mental health. We expand these data by examining insomnia, pre-sleep arousal, psychosocial factors, and retrospective changes in sleep pattern during the COVID-19 second wave lockdown period in Georgia. Data were collected through an online survey (n = 1117). The prevalence rate of probable insomnia disorder was 24.2%. Clinically relevant somatic and cognitive pre-sleep arousal was present in 49.8% and 58.0% of participants, and high levels of anxiety, depression and social isolation were found in 47.0%, 37.3%, 47.2% of respondents, respectively. We observed high prevalence rates of worse sleep quality, delayed bedtimes and risetimes, longer sleep latencies, higher awakenings and shorter sleep durations, relative to the pre-pandemic period. COVID-19-infected participants showed more severe sleep and mental problems. Specific predictors differentially affected insomnia, somatic and cognitive pre-sleep arousal. Depression and COVID-19 infection emerged as vulnerability factors for pre-sleep arousal, which, in turn, was associated with a higher predisposition to insomnia disorder. We confirm the strong deteriorating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep and psychosocial well-being during the second wave lockdown period. The specific association between pre-sleep arousal, insomnia, and psychosocial factors is of clinical relevance for the prevention of severity and persistence of sleep and mental problems across the repeated lockdown/reopening waves. Modulation of pre-sleep arousal may prove beneficial to implement targeted interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Disorders and COVID-19)
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13 pages, 711 KiB  
Article
Persistence of the Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep: A Longitudinal Study
by Maurizio Gorgoni, Serena Scarpelli, Anastasia Mangiaruga, Valentina Alfonsi, Maria R. Bonsignore, Francesco Fanfulla, Luigi Ferini-Strambi, Lino Nobili, Giuseppe Plazzi, Luigi De Gennaro and on behalf of the Board of the Italian Association of Sleep Medicine (AIMS)
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1520; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11111520 - 17 Nov 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2529
Abstract
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep have been widely documented, but longitudinal evaluations during different phases of the “COVID-19 era” are needed to disentangle the specific consequences of the r145estrictive measures on sleep variables. The aim of this study was to [...] Read more.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep have been widely documented, but longitudinal evaluations during different phases of the “COVID-19 era” are needed to disentangle the specific consequences of the r145estrictive measures on sleep variables. The aim of this study was to assess the immediate effect of the lockdown’s end on sleep and sleep-related dimensions in an Italian sample, also considering the stress and depressive symptoms. We used an online survey to longitudinally collect data on sociodemographic, environmental, clinical, sleep, and sleep-related variables in two time points: during and immediately after the lockdown. The final sample included 102 participants. The large prevalence of poor sleep quality, clinically relevant pre-sleep arousal, and depressive symptoms, as well as poor sleep quality and pre-sleep arousal score observed during the lockdown, remained stable after its end. On the other hand, the prevalence of moderate-to-severe event-related stress and intrusive symptom scores exhibited a drastic reduction after the end of home confinement. Both bedtime and rise time were anticipated after the lockdown, while sleep quality exhibited only a trend of post-lockdown sleep disturbance reduction. Our findings point to a reduced stress level (specific for the intrusive symptomatology) after the end of the lockdown and persistence of sleep problems, suggesting two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses: (a) the strict restrictive measures are not the main cause of sleep problems during the pandemic and (b) home confinement induces long-lasting effects on sleep observable after its end, and a longer period of time might be needed to observe an improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Disorders and COVID-19)
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14 pages, 760 KiB  
Article
Dreams and Nightmares during the First and Second Wave of the COVID-19 Infection: A Longitudinal Study
by Serena Scarpelli, Valentina Alfonsi, Maurizio Gorgoni, Alessandro Musetti, Maria Filosa, Maria C. Quattropani, Vittorio Lenzo, Elena Vegni, Lidia Borghi, Giorgia Margherita, Maria Francesca Freda, Emanuela Saita, Roberto Cattivelli, Gianluca Castelnuovo, Tommaso Manari, Giuseppe Plazzi, Luigi De Gennaro and Christian Franceschini
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1375; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11111375 - 20 Oct 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3366
Abstract
Recent literature shows that the Coronovirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has provoked significant changes in dreaming. The current study intends to provide an update about dream variable changes during the second wave of COVID-19. A total of 611 participants completed a web survey from December [...] Read more.
Recent literature shows that the Coronovirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has provoked significant changes in dreaming. The current study intends to provide an update about dream variable changes during the second wave of COVID-19. A total of 611 participants completed a web survey from December 2020 to January 2021. Statistical comparisons showed that subjects had lower dream-recall frequency, nightmare frequency, lucid-dream frequency, emotional intensity, and nightmare distress during the second than the first wave of the pandemic. Dreams had a higher negative tone during the second than first wave. We revealed significant differences concerning post-traumatic growth, sleep-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and sleep measures between groups obtained as a function of the changes in the oneiric frequency between the first and second waves. We also found significant correlations between qualitative/emotional dream features and COVID-19-related factors (job change, forced quarantine, having COVID-19 infected relatives/friends, or asking for mental health help). Overall, we found that the second wave affected fewer quantitative features of dream activity and there was less emotional intensity. Moreover, we confirmed the relationship between nightmares and the high risk of PTSD when subjects were grouped as a function of the increasing/decreasing frequency. Finally, our findings are partly coherent with the continuity hypothesis between oneiric and waking experiences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Disorders and COVID-19)
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10 pages, 614 KiB  
Article
The Differential Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep Quality, Insomnia, Depression, Stress, and Anxiety among Late Adolescents and Elderly in Italy
by Giulia Amicucci, Federico Salfi, Aurora D’Atri, Lorenzo Viselli and Michele Ferrara
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(10), 1336; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11101336 - 11 Oct 2021
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 4351
Abstract
The restraining measures due to the COVID-19 outbreak deeply affected the general population’s sleep health and psychological status. The current literature proposes young and older people as two particularly at-risk groups. However, the differential impact of the lockdown period in these specific age [...] Read more.
The restraining measures due to the COVID-19 outbreak deeply affected the general population’s sleep health and psychological status. The current literature proposes young and older people as two particularly at-risk groups. However, the differential impact of the lockdown period in these specific age categories needs to be disentangled. Through a web-based survey adopting validated questionnaires, we evaluated and compared sleep quality/habits, insomnia, perceived stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms of Italian late adolescents (n = 670; mean age ± SD, 19.38 ± 0.74, 18–20 years) and elderly (n = 253; 68.18 ± 2.79, 65–75 years). Young respondents reported more severe insomnia symptoms, worse subjective sleep quality, longer sleep latency, higher daytime dysfunction, and a more prevalent disruption of sleep habits (bedtime, get-up time, nap) than the elderly. On the other hand, older participants showed shorter sleep duration, lower habitual sleep efficiency, and greater use of sleep medications. Finally, the younger population displayed higher levels of depression and perceived stress. Our findings indicate that the lockdown period had more pervasive repercussions on sleep and the mental health of late adolescents. The implementation of supportive strategies is encouraged for this vulnerable population group. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Disorders and COVID-19)
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12 pages, 911 KiB  
Article
Changes in Sleep Patterns and Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders during the COVID-19 Lockdown
by Oliviero Bruni, Maria Breda, Raffaele Ferri and Maria Grazia Melegari
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1139; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11091139 - 27 Aug 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3353
Abstract
Background. The COVID-19 lockdown determined important changes in the sleep of a large percentage of the world population. We assessed the modifications of reported sleep patterns and disturbances in Italian children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders [...] Read more.
Background. The COVID-19 lockdown determined important changes in the sleep of a large percentage of the world population. We assessed the modifications of reported sleep patterns and disturbances in Italian children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), compared to control children, before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. Methods. Parents of 100 ASD, 236 ADHD patients, and 340 healthy children filled out an anonymous online survey and a modified version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), advertised via social media, to evaluate sleep patterns and disturbances of their children before and during the lockdown. Results. Before the lockdown, bedtime and risetime were not different between the three groups. During the lockdown, ADHD children tended to have a later bedtime and risetime than ASD and controls, while ASD children tended to maintain similar bedtime and risetime. Overall, during the lockdown, a reduced sleep duration significantly differentiated clinical groups from controls. Anxiety at bedtime, difficulties in falling asleep, and daytime sleepiness increased in all groups during the lockdown. Hypnic jerks, rhythmic movement disorders, night awakenings, restless sleep, sleepwalking, and daytime sleepiness increased in ASD and ADHD patients, in particular. Conclusions. This is the first study comparing sleep habits and disorders in ASD and ADHD during the lockdown showing specific differences consistent with the core characteristics of two neurodevelopmental disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Disorders and COVID-19)
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13 pages, 595 KiB  
Article
The Effects of the COVID19-Related Lockdown Are Modulated by Age: An Italian Study in Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers
by Mariangela Cerasuolo, Serena Malloggi, Francesca Conte, Benedetta Albinni, Oreste De Rosa, Marissa Lynn Rescott, Fiorenza Giganti and Gianluca Ficca
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1051; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11081051 - 09 Aug 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2765
Abstract
Although the issue has been repeatedly explored, data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s sleep quality are inconsistent. To clarify these discrepancies, here we investigate possible age-related differences. During the lockdown, 112 parents of toddlers (0–3 years, N = 61) [...] Read more.
Although the issue has been repeatedly explored, data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s sleep quality are inconsistent. To clarify these discrepancies, here we investigate possible age-related differences. During the lockdown, 112 parents of toddlers (0–3 years, N = 61) and pre-schoolers (4–5 years, n = 51) completed an online survey including the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Sleep-related items required an additional retrospective judgment, referring to the pre-pandemic period. During the lockdown, sleep schedules were delayed in both age groups whereas sleep quality (CSHQ total scores) improved in pre-schoolers but not in toddlers. Between-groups comparisons revealed that, prior to the lockdown, pre-schoolers showed worse sleep quality than toddlers, whereas this difference disappeared during home confinement. Also, pre-schoolers’ sleep timing was advanced before the lockdown and delayed during the lockdown relative to toddlers’. Our data highlight a significant modulation of age on the impact of the pandemic crisis on sleep, with pre-schoolers experiencing greater effects than toddlers. This profile suggests that factors affecting sleep features have different weights at different ages: sleep patterns would be mainly determined by developmental factors (i.e., biological drive) in younger children, whereas environmental factors (e.g., major lifestyle changes) would have a stronger effect on older ones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Disorders and COVID-19)
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9 pages, 252 KiB  
Article
Insomnia, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic May Depend on the Pre-Existent Health Status Rather than the Profession
by Paweł Wańkowicz, Aleksandra Szylińska and Iwona Rotter
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1001; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11081001 - 29 Jul 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3161
Abstract
Despite the high number of studies on mental health among healthcare workers, only a few have attempted to assess the mental health of people with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 crisis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the symptoms of [...] Read more.
Despite the high number of studies on mental health among healthcare workers, only a few have attempted to assess the mental health of people with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 crisis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, and depression among people with chronic diseases working in healthcare and in other professions. The study participants were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 441 healthcare workers, and the second consisted of 572 non-healthcare professionals. Correlation analysis showed a strong correlation between autoimmune diseases and an increase in GAD-7 scale, ISI score, and PHQ-9 scale. Therefore, only autoimmune diseases were included for further analyses as a predictor of insomnia, depression, and anxiety. After adjusting the results for gender, age, smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and profession, the group with autoimmune diseases showed a more than a 2-fold increase in the risk of anxiety symptoms, a more than 2.5-fold increase in the risk of depressive symptoms, and a 4-fold increase in the risk of insomnia symptoms. This study shows that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of insomnia, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders may depend on the pre-existent health status of an individual rather than on their profession. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Disorders and COVID-19)
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