Nature and Science of Sleep

The Interplay Between Sleep and Pain

Among individuals with chronic pain, more than half suffer from sleep problems. Emerging evidence from different settings and methodological approaches suggests that sleep problems can lead to a greater risk and poorer prognosis for chronic pain conditions. This has led to the view that sleep and pain perpetuate and exacerbate each other. To develop more refined therapeutic strategies for individuals suffering from pain and sleep problems, we need a better understanding concerning the long-term trajectories of these conditions, the impact of sleep quality on pain management, and the underlying mechanisms of the sleep-pain relationship.