Clinical Research on Sleep Disorders: Opportunities and Challenges

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 1125

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
2. Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Policlinico Riuniti of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Interests: sleep-disordered breathing; sleep apnea; OSA; CSA; OHS; CPAP; non-invasive ventilation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Clinical research on sleep disorders is a field of growing interest because of the prevalence and significant impact these disorders have on global health. Sleep disorders, including sleep-disordered breathing, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and others, affect millions of people worldwide and are often associated with serious physical and mental health consequences. Opportunities in clinical research include the development of new pharmacological and behavioral treatments, the use of innovative sleep monitoring technologies, and the personalization of therapies based on individual genetic and biological data. However, there are also numerous challenges, such as the need to standardize methods of diagnosis and evaluation, the difficulty in recruiting participants for clinical trials, and the integration of different scientific disciplines. In addition, interindividual variability in sleep disorders requires individualized approaches to achieve effective clinical outcomes. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry, as well as continued support from healthcare and government institutions.

Dr. Pasquale Tondo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • innovation
  • personalized management
  • sleep disorders
  • telemonitoring
  • treatment

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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16 pages, 539 KiB  
Article
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists’ Experience on Relevance of Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Training and Clinical Practice: A Survey Study from Italy
by Chiara Baglioni, Andrea Galbiati, Debora Meneo, Greta Cavadini, Francesca Gelfo, Francesco Mancini and Carlo Buonanno
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(1), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15010048 - 7 Jan 2025
Viewed by 802
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Based on previous data reporting the status of health professionals’ training about sleep clinical psychophysiology, insomnia, and its treatment in the US and Canada, this paper aims at providing a snapshot of the Italian situation, considering health professionals qualified to offer cognitive [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Based on previous data reporting the status of health professionals’ training about sleep clinical psychophysiology, insomnia, and its treatment in the US and Canada, this paper aims at providing a snapshot of the Italian situation, considering health professionals qualified to offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Adding information on different countries is important, as national health systems differ significantly, and distinct evidence-based pathways for change may be proposed. Methods: Two hundred and thirteen CBT professionals (180 females; 33 males) answered a 5 min survey about their training and experience in recognizing and treating behavioral sleep disorders in their practice. The questionnaire was diffused through the mailing list of the Italian Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy Society (Società Italiana di Terapia Comportamentale e Cognitiva, SITCC) throughout December 2023 and January 2024. Results: A total of 213 participants completed the survey. Only a minor proportion of respondents (37.1%) reported having received training for diagnosis and treatment of insomnia or other behavioral sleep disorders. Familiarity with psychological therapeutics for sleep was mainly associated with knowledge of sleep hygiene rules, relaxation, and mindfulness techniques, but not with core CBT strategies for insomnia (i.e., sleep restriction and stimulus control) and sleep regulation. The less familiar therapeutics were those for pediatric insomnia. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight scarce knowledge and consideration of sleep problems in CBT practice in Italy. As insomnia is prevalent, an independent mental disorder, and a predictor for mental and somatic comorbid conditions, these findings underscore an urgency to enlarge and strengthen CBT professionals’ training on sleep psychophysiology, sleep clinical psychology, insomnia, behavioral sleep problems, and their treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Research on Sleep Disorders: Opportunities and Challenges)
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