Sleep loss causes emotional dysregulations increasing depression and anxiety: a reciprocal relationship

Abstract

Introduction: Good quality sleep is essential for good neurocognitive performance, mental and physical health. However, changes in society have led to a worsening of sleep quality, which is associated with the development of anxiety and depression. Objective: ​​Discuss and contribute for a better understanding of the association between sleep loss and anxiety and depression. Methodology: This article presents a narrative review of the literature based on the analysis of scientific articles published from 2014 to 2022, in PubMed, about sleep deprivation and its association with anxiety and depression. Two criterias were applied, titles that did not mention the thematic association between sleep deprivation and depression and anxiety and abstracts that did not address that theme. After the exclusion criterias, was obtained in total, 45 articles originally in English (including book chapters, guidelines and case reports) remained. Discussion: Sleep deprivation is associated with an increase in cortisol levels, a reduction in testosterone and serotonin levels, and an increase in inflammatory markers. In this context, this condition is related to symptoms of depression and anxiety. Due changes in the pattern of society, such as increased use of the internet and a greater workload, have led a large part of the population to develop problems in sleep quality. Addictionaly, it is known that good quality sleep is essential for good neurocognitive performance, mental and physical health. Conclusion: This study discussed the relation between sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety. It is added to its effect on good neurocognitive performance, mental and physical health. Overall, it was evidenced that there is an association of mechanisms between these disorders. In this context, there is an urgent need for more specific research and dissemination of data on the association of sleep deprivation and depression and anxiety.