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Five Facts about sleep and mental health

pharmafile | August 3, 2025 | Feature | Medical Communications |  Five Facts, Psychiatry, insomnia, mental health, sleep, sleep disorders, sleep health 

1

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep enhances creative thinking and helps the brain form connections between ideas, supporting mental wellbeing and personal development. 1

2


An ongoing lack of sleep is closely linked to the development and worsening of conditions such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. 2,3

3


Obstructive sleep apnea – when breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, reducing oxygen levels – is more prevalent among people with mental health conditions. This can increase their risk of both physical health problems and psychological distress. 4

4


Weighted blankets apply deep pressure touch, activating the parasympathetic nervous system to release calming chemicals like endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. This slows the heart rate, eases anxiety, relaxes muscles and promotes deeper sleep. 5

5


Interventions like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for insomnia and light therapy have been shown to improve memory and may even slow cognitive decline in older adults. 6

References:

  1. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0900271106
  2. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2051-5545.2011.tb00045.x
  3. https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/camhs/self-care/sleep/why-sleep-matters/
  4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31003451/
  5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11056563/#s4
  6.  https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.4008
The Pharmafile Brief

This article featured in: August 2025 – The Pharmafile Brief

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