Anxiety and sleep problems: emerging concepts and theoretical treatment implications
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Published on: September 22, 2020
Thomas W Uhde1, Bernadette M Cortese, Andrei Vedeniapin
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, P. O. Box 250861, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. uhde@musc.edu
Abstract:
The high prevalence and comorbidity of anxiety and sleep problems, especially insomnia, suggest an important underlying relationship between these disorders. In this article, we highlight two theoretical models explaining this co-occurrence, provide a brief update on the association between anxiety-insomnia and anxiety-cataplexy in general, and review more specifically sleep problems in generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder. We also explore sleep paralysis as an anxiety-sleep event. Our goal with this examination of selective anxiety-sleep problems is to provide clues about diagnostic and treatment approaches and frame strategies for future research.
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