Open research questions in Sleep and related disorders
1,598 gap statements mined from Sleep and related disorders papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 8,472 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.
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What the literature leaves open
The model was trained on a relatively small dataset. The model lacks validation on a larger, more diverse dataset. The study only used two different actigraphy devices. Further testing on more diverse datasets and devices is required. The model may not be generalizable to all types of actigraphy devices.
Identifying activity patterns from different actigraphy devices in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a comparative study · 2026 · DOIFurther testing on more diverse datasets and devices is required. Validation on a larger, more diverse dataset is needed. Using more than two different actigraphy devices could provide more robust results. Exploring other machine learning models and techniques could improve the results.
Identifying activity patterns from different actigraphy devices in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a comparative study · 2026 · DOIThe current study aims to address the gap in understanding which sleep features predict relapse in FEP. Prior work has not identified the specific sleep features that predict relapse risk. The study highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between sleep disturbance and relapse risk in FEP.
Predicting relapse risk in first episode psychosis using machine learning and sleep data · 2026 · DOIThe study notes the challenge of managing SLE, including the need to consider kinesiophobia in treatment plans. The study highlights the challenge of promoting physical activity in patients with SLE who experience kinesiophobia.
Inflammation as a key factor associated with kinesiophobia in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient population with a high frequency of Type D personality and central sensitization: a cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOIPrior research has not fully examined the reciprocal associations between parent-child relationships and depressive symptoms. The study aims to address this gap by examining the mediating role of insomnia and sex differences. The study uses a longitudinal design to provide a more nuanced understanding of these relationships.
Reciprocal associations between parent–child relationships and adolescent depressive symptoms: The longitudinal mediation role of insomnia and sex differences · 2026 · DOIPrior work has not fully examined the association between sleep architecture and fragmentation, measured using Fitbit, and ADHD symptoms and externalizing behaviors.
Links of fitbit-derived sleep architecture and fragmentation with ADHD symptoms and externalizing behaviors in adolescents · 2026 · DOIThere is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships between physical activity, cognitive processing styles, and sleep outcomes. The study aims to address this gap by examining the sequential indirect association pattern among physical activity, negative attentional bias, bedtime procrastination, and sleep quality.
Physical activity and sleep quality among college students: the sequential indirect associations of negative attentional bias and bedtime procrastination · 2026 · DOIIt notes the complexity of sleep regulation and the need for a comprehensive approach. The paper also references the challenge of interpreting conflicting results from different studies.
Sleep and circadian disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease: clinical assessment, treatable syndromes, and limits of biomarker inference · 2026 · DOIThe high dimensionality of the input data and the need for feature scaling and normalization are technical challenges. The study identifies the challenge of capturing the subtle dependencies among variables, which is addressed by using artificial neural networks.
Neural Network-Based Weight Loss Prediction: Behavioral Integration of Stress and Sleep in AI Decision Support · 2025 · DOIIt notes that prior reviews have not provided a clear separation between sleep disorders and AD-associated physiological signals.
Sleep and circadian disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease: clinical assessment, treatable syndromes, and limits of biomarker inference · 2026 · DOIIntegrating multiple data types, - Evaluating the model's performance in a more natural setting, - Exploring the clinical added value of the machine learning…
Predicting relapse risk in first episode psychosis using machine learning and sleep data · 2026 · DOIThe higher number of female participants may be considered as a limitation - The use of self-reported questionnaires, which may increase the risk of response bias - The relatively small sample size and the need to restrict the number of variables included in the mediation model, not all potential confounders could be incorporated - Residual confounding cannot be…
Inflammation as a key factor associated with kinesiophobia in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient population with a high frequency of Type D personality and central sensitization: a cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOIFurther classify sedentary behavior and explore the differential effects of its various types on depressive symptoms, - Categorize outdoor activities according to their type, intensity and contextual characteristics to more clearly clarify their relationship with adolescent mental health, - Employ more refined behavioral measures and a more comprehensive assessment of confounding…
Associations of sleep, outdoor activity, and sedentary time with depressive symptoms among secondary school students in Wuhan: an isotemporal substitution analysis · 2026 · DOILimited understanding of the associations between sleep, outdoor activity, and sedentary time with depressive symptoms in adolescents - Need to identify modifiable behavioral risk factors for depression - Gap in knowledge on the dose-response relationship between these behavioral variables and the risk of depressive…
Associations of sleep, outdoor activity, and sedentary time with depressive symptoms among secondary school students in Wuhan: an isotemporal substitution analysis · 2026 · DOISmall sample size, - Limited to healthy youths aged 6-17 years, - No longitudinal design, - No control for other factors that may influence…
High social jetlag in healthy youth: differences in tryptophan levels and regional gray matter volume · 2026 · DOIInvestigate the effects of SJL on mental health and cognitive function in different populations, - Examine the relationship between SJL and other factors that may influence mental health and cognitive function, - Develop interventions to reduce SJL and improve mental health and cognitive…
High social jetlag in healthy youth: differences in tryptophan levels and regional gray matter volume · 2026 · DOIFurther research is needed to understand the relationship between sleep and behavioral problems in adolescents, - Longitudinal studies can help determine the causal relationship between sleep disturbances and externalizing behaviors, - Studies can investigate the effects of sleep interventions on ADHD symptoms and externalizing…
Links of fitbit-derived sleep architecture and fragmentation with ADHD symptoms and externalizing behaviors in adolescents · 2026 · DOILimited to gynecological cancer patients, - Small sample size of 76 patients, - No long-term follow-up, - Concomitant medication use not compared…
Electroacupuncture Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Alleviates Insomnia–Anxiety Comorbidity in Gynecological Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial · 2026 · DOIInvestigate long-term effects of EA plus CBT-I, - Examine the efficacy of EA plus CBT-I in other cancer populations, - Compare EA plus CBT-I with other non-pharmacological…
Electroacupuncture Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Alleviates Insomnia–Anxiety Comorbidity in Gynecological Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial · 2026 · DOINo studies to date have used idiographic networks to guide the treatment of comorbid insomnia and depression - Group-level networks exist, but none of the existing studies has combined idiographic network estimation with treatment matched to an individual's own…
It is time for idiographic, network-informed clinical research for comorbid insomnia and depression · 2026 · DOITrials need to be designed around the logic of idiographic network approaches from the start, with network reconfiguration as a primary outcome - A consensus should be reached on minimal reporting standards for the ecological momentary assessment protocols used to build…
It is time for idiographic, network-informed clinical research for comorbid insomnia and depression · 2026 · DOIThe study was exploratory - No correction was applied across stages or regression models - The findings identify associations for further investigation rather than establish distinct sleep profiles for particular epilepsy groups - The study had a relatively small sample size…
Parent-Reported Sleep Disturbance Profiles in Children with Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) · 2026 · DOIFurther investigation of the associations between epilepsy groups and sleep domains - Examination of the effects of age on sleep disturbances in children with epilepsy - Investigation of the relationships between sleep disturbances and seizure thresholds in children…
Parent-Reported Sleep Disturbance Profiles in Children with Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) · 2026 · DOIThe study identifies a gap in understanding gender differences in short and long sleep among older adults. The study aims to fill this gap by examining the contributions of socioeconomic, behavioral, functional, and health-related factors to these differences.
Decomposition of gender disparities in abnormal sleep duration among Chinese older adults: evidence from a national survey · 2026 · DOIFurther research could investigate the inclusion of additional behavioral variables in the predictive model - The development of digital therapeutics based on the proposed ANN architecture - The application of the proposed ANN in resource-limited healthcare…
Neural Network-Based Weight Loss Prediction: Behavioral Integration of Stress and Sleep in AI Decision Support · 2025 · DOI
Most-cited papers in Sleep and related disorders
- The Pittsburgh sleep quality index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research · Psychiatry Research · 1989 · 29,714 citations
- Validation of the Insomnia Severity Index as an outcome measure for insomnia research · Sleep Medicine · 2001 · 7,097 citations
- Epidemiologic Study of Sleep Disturbances and Psychiatric Disorders · JAMA · 1989 · 3,360 citations
- Impact of sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function · The Lancet · 1999 · 2,899 citations
- Epidemiologic study of sleep disturbances and psychiatric disorders. An opportunity for prevention? · JAMA · 1989 · 2,440 citations
- Insomnia as a predictor of depression: A meta-analytic evaluation of longitudinal epidemiological studies · Journal of Affective Disorders · 2011 · 2,413 citations
- Quantification of Sleepiness: A New Approach · Psychophysiology · 1973 · 2,012 citations
- Seasonal Affective Disorder · Archives of General Psychiatry · 1984 · 1,962 citations
- Athens Insomnia Scale: validation of an instrument based on ICD-10 criteria · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · 2000 · 1,503 citations
- A cognitive model of insomnia · Behaviour Research and Therapy · 2002 · 1,492 citations
Most recent work
- Minimum combined sleep, physical activity, and nutrition variations associated with lifeSPAN and healthSPAN improvements: a population cohort study · EClinicalMedicine · 2026
- How many nights are needed? The short-term stability of intraindividual variability in sleep parameters derived from accelerometry data in a cohort of normal sleepers · SLEEP · 2026
- Epidemiology and Economic Burden of Sleep Disorders in Europe · European Journal of Neurology · 2026
- Why sleep matters in chronic pain: evidence across the lifespan · EBioMedicine · 2026
- Within-Person Association Between Daily Screen Use and Sleep in Youth · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · 2026
- Determinants and interrelations of exercise effects on sleep quality: A multimethod meta-analysis · Sleep Medicine Reviews · 2026
- One-Year Actigraphy Study of Sleep and Rest-Activity Rhythms as Markers of Relapse in Depression · JAMA Psychiatry · 2026
- Insufficient Sleep Among US Adolescents Across Behavioral Risk Groups · JAMA · 2026
- Chronotherapeutic Approaches to Target Insufficient and Late Sleep in Adolescents · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · 2026
- Combination treatment for chronic insomnia disorder in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline · Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine · 2026
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