SLEEP AND MENTAL HEALTH: NEUROBIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS, CLINICAL DISORDERS, AND SYSTEMIC IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Sleep and mental health share a powerful bidirectional relationship. Disturbed sleep—including insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, narcolepsy, and circadian rhythm disorders—frequently coexists with psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Poor sleep quality impairs emotional regulation, attention, and stress tolerance, increasing vulnerability to psychological distress. Conversely, psychiatric disorders disrupt sleep architecture through alterations in neurotransmitter systems, stress pathways, and behavioral rhythms. Emerging evidence suggests overlapping biological mechanisms, including dysregulation of neurochemical signaling, hyperarousal states, circadian misalignment, and glymphatic dysfunction. Early identification and management of sleep disturbances significantly enhance mental health outcomes, emphasizing the importance of sleep assessment in comprehensive psychiatric care.