Leveraging Contemporary Digital Technologies to Monitor and Treat Sleep Difficulties in Bipolar Disorder: A Review

Abstract

Sleep disturbances (eg, insomnia, hypersomnia, poor sleep quality) are a prominent feature of bipolar disorder (BD). Furthermore, sleep difficulties are present across all phases of BD, including euthymia, and these difficulties contribute to the risk and maintenance of depressive and (hypo)manic episodes. Although existing pharmacological and psychosocial treatments offer hope for ameliorating sleep difficulties in BD, conventional treatments are limited in their ability to accurately capture detailed sleep patterns, detect early onset of sleep difficulties, and deliver personalized interventions. Widely accessible contemporary digital technologies show promise for mitigating these limitations and advancing sleep treatment for individuals with BD. We summarize and synthesize research examining the use of three digital tools for sleep assessment and intervention in BD: smartphone applications, ecological momentary assessment, and actigraphy. We also discuss the benefits, risks, and limitations of these technologies. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2023;53(11):496–501.]