Sleep and Pain: the Role of Depression

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Good nighttime sleep is essential for maintenance of optimal daytime functioning. When nighttime sleep is disrupted, there are countless associated daytime consequences. One of the more prominent daytime consequences of disrupted sleep is pain. While the association between sleep and pain has received great empirical attention, there is still much unknown. This paper aims to summarize and evaluate the state-of-the-science of the interrelations among sleep, pain, and mood. Recent Findings: Cumulative scientific evidence suggests that nighttime sleep is associated with both daytime pain and daytime mood disturbances. A growing body of research indicates that disruptions in mood may be one mechanism through which sleep disruptions are related to daytime pain. The study of common biological substrates may shed additional light on the interrelations among sleep, pain, and mood. Summary: Mood represents an important link between sleep and pain. Future investigations would be well suited to appropriately sample a variety of indicators from the domains of sleep, pain, and mood. Studies that test triadic treatments that simultaneously address sleep, pain, and mood are needed.