The Relationship between Sleep and Pain in Chronic Pain Conditions

Chronic pain is a common and debilitating condition often associated with sleep problems (e.g., insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and sleep-disordered breathing). Evidence suggests that there is a bidirectional relationship between pain and sleep, with pain predicting sleep disturbance and poor sleep quality exacerbating pain outcomes, especially in people with chronic pain (e.g., chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, chronic post-surgical pain). More research into this relationship is needed to elucidate the relationship between these two factors, given the extent to which pain and sleep coexist and influence each other in chronic pain populations, as well as the negative impact these factors have on individuals' quality of life and health outcomes.

The goal of the article collection is to collect evidence aimed at:

• Investigate and describe the interrelationship between pain and sleep in chronic pain conditions

• Compare sleep quality and quantity in patients with chronic pain and healthy subjects

• Evaluate the role of sleep as a predictor of chronic pain and vice versa in line with the hypothesis of bidirectionality

• Describe the impact of sleep on health-related outcomes and symptomatology in chronic pain conditions

• Propose a rationale of intervention (e.g., multidisciplinary intervention, pharmacological intervention, psychological intervention) that considers the role of sleep in chronic pain as a key target of intervention

This could serve as a good basis for further developments in this subject, increase knowledge and develop potential evidence-based intervention. Contributors are invited to prepare and submit original research, literature review, and other relevant types of manuscripts that fit to the scope of the Research Topic on the relationship between pain and sleep in chronic pain conditions.