A review on anxiety and sleep
1Department of Internal Medicine, Raja Rajeswari Medical College & Hospital, Bangalore, India.
Bioinformation
|August 18, 2025
Summary
Sleep disturbances are common in children and adults with anxiety. While total sleep time may be similar, anxiety impacts sleep onset, REM sleep, and wakefulness, especially in adolescents and those with insomnia.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Anxiety disorders are prevalent across all age groups.
- Sleep disturbances are frequently reported by individuals with anxiety.
- The relationship between sleep and anxiety requires further investigation across the lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the multifaceted relationship between sleep and anxiety.
- To highlight sleep disturbances in children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety.
- To synthesize current knowledge on sleep-anxiety correlations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing existing data on sleep and anxiety.
- Analysis of correlations between anxiety traits and sleep parameters.
- Comparison of sleep patterns across different age groups.
Main Results:
- Children and parents report increased sleep disturbances.
- Anxious adolescents exhibit longer sleep onset and increased Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.
- Adults with trait anxiety show increased wake after sleep onset, particularly those with primary insomnia.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disturbances are a significant concern in both pediatric and adult anxiety.
- Anxiety impacts specific sleep architecture components, varying by developmental stage.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex sleep-anxiety interplay in adults.
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