Sleep, a fundamental aspect of daily life, plays a vital role in mental health and addiction treatment. Nearly a quarter of American adults struggle with mental illness, making it challenging for them to maintain a good night’s rest. For those with psychiatric conditions, disrupted sleep can exacerbate symptoms and hinder treatment adherence.
Research has shown that addictive drugs can alter sleep-wake cycles, and sleep disorders are linked to addiction severity and relapse. The connection between sleep and mental health lies in circadian rhythms – the body’s internal clock. This internal mechanism synchronizes bodily functions with the environment, supporting specific functions through a series of proteins interacting in a feedback loop.
Chronic circadian disruption can lead to long-term health consequences, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In opioid addiction, disruptions to circadian rhythms can impair cognitive functions, increase negative emotions, and worsen mental and physical health.
A recent study by my team identified molecular changes associated with psychiatric disorders in people using opioids. We used brain tissue from deceased donors and experiments in mice to explore how these changes affect disease severity and behavior. Our findings suggest that targeting the NPAS2 gene could treat opioid addiction symptoms, potentially leading to reduced opioid use and fewer overdoses.
By understanding the relationship between sleep, circadian rhythms, and addiction, researchers can develop new treatments to improve patient outcomes. Quality sleep is not just essential for waking up refreshed; it also holds promise as a treatment approach for addiction.
Source: https://theconversation.com/poor-sleep-and-addiction-go-hand-in-hand-understanding-how-could-lead-to-new-treatments-for-opioid-use-disorder-242664