The need to prioritize "insomnia disorder" in public health agendas: "a wakeup call" position paper from European and Canadian experts in sleep and mental health.

Objective: Insomnia Disorder is a chronic mental disorder with significant impact on the population across Europe and Canada. While some countries reimburse evidence-based treatments, others fail to recognize insomnia as a chronic condition and do not provide the resources to ensure consistent care for those affected. This document serves as a position paper from sleep and mental health experts across Europe, Switzerland the UK, and Canada, emphasizing the critical need for public health systems to recognize chronic insomnia as a disorder in order to enhance support for patients.

Lucid Dreaming: Not Just Awareness, but Agency.

During lucid dreaming (LD), dreamers are aware that they are dreaming and may be able to influence the oneiric content. There has been recent debate about the relative importance of the ability to influence the dream and having agency over the pure awareness of dreaming. To underline this, we examined the associations of lucid dreams without agency (LD-Ag) and lucid dreams with agency (LD + Ag) to sleep and mental health problems and long COVID during the pandemic.

Post-vaccination hypersomnia - occurrence of idiopathic hypersomnia and narcolepsy type 2 after Pandemrix vaccination in a case- series from Sweden and Finland.

Background: The swine flu (H1N1) pandemic of 2009-2010 witnessed an increase in reported cases of narcolepsy, clearly demonstrated in children developing narcolepsy type 1 in several countries, most notably Sweden and Finland. This increase has been attributed to the Pandemrix vaccination.

Objective: We performed an inventory of a case -series of patients displaying the onset of excessive daytime sleepiness close to the Pandemrix vaccination who did not suffer from narcolepsy type 1 but other types of central hypersomnia, such as idiopathic hypersomnia and narcolepsy type 2.

Sleep During Pandemic Times: Summary of Findings and Future Outlook Through the Lens of the International COVID Sleep Study (ICOSS).

To study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep and circadian rhythms-two fundamental pillars for health-the collaboration International COVID-19 Sleep Study (ICOSS) was established. The present overview comprehensively discusses the findings from this collaboration. Involving sleep researchers across the globe, ICOSS used a harmonised questionnaire to cover changes in sleep and sleep disorders, as well as physical and mental health.

Time-Dependent Autonomic Dysregulation and Co-Activation Induced by Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep.

Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) are characterised by repetitive, involuntary limb movements that occur during sleep and are often associated with autonomic nervous system dysregulation. While it is known that PLMS influence cardiovascular parameters, the exact role of heart rate variability (HRV) and the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity remains unclear. Previous studies have suggested that longer PLMS events may trigger more pronounced autonomic responses, but the relationship between the duration of PLMS and autonomic dynamics has yet to be fully explored.

Correction: Face masks to prevent transmission of respiratory infections: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on face mask use.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Narcolepsy as a potential risk factor for Schizophrenia.

Narcolepsy is a severe sleep disorder with characteristics of fatigue, fragmented sleep, cataplexy and hypnagogic hallucinations. Earlier clinical studies have reported the onset of schizophrenia after narcolepsy but the causality behind narcolepsy and schizophrenia is unknown. Our goal was to understand the causality between narcolepsy and schizophrenia.

Heart Rate Variability and Interoception in Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep: Interference with Psychiatric Disorders?

Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) are a prevalent disorder characterized by rhythmic, involuntary movements of the lower limbs, such as dorsiflexion of the ankle and extension of the big toe, occurring in periodic intervals during sleep. These movements are often linked to disrupted autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and altered interoception. Interoception involves perceiving internal bodily states, like heartbeat, breathing, hunger, and temperature, and plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and the mind-body connection.

Associations between obesity, a composite risk score for probable long COVID, and sleep problems in SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals.

Background: Preliminary data suggests that obesity might hasten the decline in mRNA vaccine-induced immunity against SARS-CoV-2. However, whether this renders individuals with obesity more susceptible to long COVID symptoms post-vaccination remains uncertain. Given sleep's critical role in immunity, exploring the associations between obesity, probable long COVID symptoms, and sleep disturbances is essential.

Harbingers of Hope: Scientists and the Pursuit of World Peace.

The ongoing wars in many regions-such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas-as well as the effects of war on communities, social services, and mental health are covered in this special editorial. This article emphasizes the need for international efforts to promote peace, offer humanitarian aid, and address the mental health challenges faced by individuals and communities affected by war and violence.

A New Screening Tool (BAMSA) for Sleep Apnea in Male Professional Truck Drivers.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in professional truck drivers. It is important that OSA is recognized since undiagnosed and/or untreated sleep apnea is a risk factor for sleepiness-related traffic accidents. In this study, we developed a new simple tool to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in this population.

Impact of REM Sleep Behavior and Sleep Talking on Mortality in Parkinson's Disease.

Background REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a prodromal marker for Parkinson's disease (PD) and other alpha-synucleinopathies. Sleep talking (ST) is an isolated symptom and is frequent in PD and RBD. Here, we investigate the associations of ST and RBD with the mortality of PD patients.

The association of insomnia with long COVID: An international collaborative study (ICOSS-II).

Objective: There is evidence of a strong association between insomnia and COVID-19, yet few studies have examined the relationship between insomnia and long COVID. This study aimed to investigate whether COVID-19 patients with pre-pandemic insomnia have a greater risk of developing long COVID and whether long COVID is in turn associated with higher incident rates of insomnia symptoms after infection.

Methods: Data were collected cross-sectionally (May-Dec 2021) as part of an international collaborative study involving participants from 16 countries.

Habitual short sleepers with pre-existing medical conditions are at higher risk of Long COVID.

Study Objectives: Preliminary evidence suggests that the risk of Long COVID is higher among people with pre-existing medical conditions. Based on its proven adjuvant role in immunity, habitual sleep duration may alter the risk of developing Long COVID. The objective of this study was to determine whether the odds of Long COVID are higher among those with pre-existing medical conditions, and whether the strength of this association varies by habitual sleep duration.

Effect of series of periodic limb movements in sleep on blood pressure, heart rate and high frequency heart rate variability.

Introduction: The phenomenon known as periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) has been linked to a change in autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and its effect on circulatory regulation. Autonomic dysfunction or dysregulation in patients with PLMS has been described in some domains; however, any relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and PLMS has not been clearly established. HRV analysis is a recognised, non-invasive research method that describes the influence of the ANS on heart rate (HR).

'I became more aware of my actions'-A qualitative longitudinal study of a health psychological group intervention for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Objectives: To explore myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients' experiences of a health psychological group intervention and its usefulness, non-usefulness or harmfulness for illness management and adjustment.

Design: A qualitative longitudinal study using inductive content analysis.

Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 adults.

Persistent short nighttime sleep duration is associated with a greater post-COVID risk in fully mRNA-vaccinated individuals.

Short nighttime sleep duration impairs the immune response to virus vaccination, and long nighttime sleep duration is associated with poor health status. Thus, we hypothesized that short (<6 h) and long (>9 h) nighttime sleepers have a higher post-COVID risk than normal nighttime sleepers, despite two doses of mRNA vaccine (which has previously been linked to lower odds of long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms). Post-COVID was defined as experiencing at least one core COVID-19 symptom for at least three months (e.