Sleep Disturbance, Circadian Health And Mental Well-Being

Abstract

There is a growing recognition of sleep disturbance as both a risk factor and a consequence of poor mental health and several studies have shown that sleep disturbance has a significant effect on emotional, cognitive and physical wellbeing. This journal explores the link between sleep disturbance, circadian health and mental wellbeing, with three major aims: to explore the bidirectional link between sleep disruption and mood disorders, to study and examine chronotherapy and light-based interventions for mood regulation, and to investigate the new emerging field of personalised sleep interventions with wearable technology. A thorough review of literature published in the past 12 years (2015–2026) was conducted, which comprised peer-reviewed journal articles, clinical guidelines and government reports, to guide the evaluation of existing evidence and identify best practice. The results suggest a close relationship between disturbed sleep and disrupted circadian rhythm and depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder based on shared neurobiological and psychobiological pathways. There is also evidence that chronotherapy, bright light therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia are effective when administered as part of a regular mental health treatment. While wearable technologies have the potential to provide valuable tools for individual sleep monitoring and intervention, there are concerns about accuracy, privacy and accessibility. The authors conclude that increasing the health of sleep should be a key part of mental health promotion, coordinated by health care providers, researchers and policy makers. There are opportunities to improve mental health prevention and treatment through the strengthening of evidence-based sleep interventions and extending the personalised use of digital approaches