The Importance of Quality Sleep and Its Relationship With Physical and Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This review aims to systematically examine the relationship between sleep quality and its impact on physical and mental health, and to assess the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for the treatment of sleep disorders. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using major databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, focusing on articles published between 2001 and 2023. The review synthesized information from 52 studies using methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, and generalization to assess indicators of sleep quality, their impact on health, and the effectiveness of different psychotherapeutic treatments. The review found that optimal sleep quality, characterized by adequate duration, continuity, and depth, is crucial for maintaining both physical and mental health. Poor sleep quality was found to contribute significantly to the development and exacerbation of many health problems, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, depression, and anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy was identified as an effective psychotherapeutic approach for improving sleep quality and managing sleep disorders, while hypnotherapy is not recommended. The findings highlight the critical role of sleep in maintaining health and the potential of targeted psychotherapeutic interventions to improve sleep quality. Given the reciprocal relationship between sleep and health, healthcare providers should prioritize the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders. Further research should focus on long-term clinical trials to establish causal relationships and the sustainability of treatment effects, promoting wider application of these findings in clinical practice.