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Predictors of Clinical Pain in Fibromyalgia: Examining the Role of Sleep
Bidirectional interactions between circadian entrainment and cognitive performance
Subjective, anatomical, and functional nasal evaluation of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Sleep disturbances and fatigue: independent predictors of sickness absence? A prospective study among 6538 employees
The role of presleep negative emotion in sleep physiology
Anderson RJ, McCrae CS, Staud R, Berry RB, Robinson ME.
Department of Clinical and Health...
Department of Clinical and Health...
Bidirectional interactions between circadian entrainment and cognitive performance
Gritton HJ, Kantorowski A, Sarter M, Lee TM.
Department of Psychology, University of...
Department of Psychology, University of...
Subjective, anatomical, and functional nasal evaluation of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
de Aguiar Vidigal T, Martinho Haddad FL, Gregório LC, Poyares D, Tufik S, Azeredo...
Sleep disturbances and fatigue: independent predictors of sickness absence? A prospective study among 6538 employees
Bültmann U, Nielsen MB, Madsen IE, Burr H, Rugulies R.
Department of Health Sciences,...
Department of Health Sciences,...
The role of presleep negative emotion in sleep physiology
Vandekerckhove M, Weiss R, Schotte C, Exadaktylos V, Haex B, Verbraecken J, Cluydts R....
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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Sleep Abnormalities of Chronic Pain Patients
Nicole Tang, MD
Department of Psychology
Institute of Psychiatry
King’s College London
London, United Kingdom
Chronic pain is a biopsychosocial condition that adversely affects multiple domains, including sleep. In fact, most chronic pain patients report fragmented or poor quality sleep. Moreover, studies suggest that pain onset often precedes the development of clinical insomnia, and pain intensity correlates with the degree of sleep disturbance. On the other hand, if left untreated, insomnia can potentiate pain, indicating that the relationship between pain and impaired sleep is complex. Importantly, an accurate assessment of sleep patterns can guide individualized chronic pain management. A number of clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with chronic pain. These treatment approaches, such as relaxation training, meditation, and goal setting, are often tailored for specific chronic pain conditions. Unexpectedly, however, sleep symptoms frequently do not improve. On the other hand, studies examining CBT directed at pain-related insomnia show significant improvements in sleep quality without marked benefits for pain—surprising results given the presumed reciprocal relationship between sleep and pain. The results highlight the need for multimodal management strategies that not only address pain but also promote restorative sleep.
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