Yıldız GN, Çiftçi B. Interplay between insomnia, anxiety, and depression. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(6): 104796 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i6.104796]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Bahar Çiftçi, Department of Fundamental Nursing, Ataturk University, HGF Agro, Ata Teknokent, Erzurum 25240, Türkiye. bahar.ciftci@atauni.edu.tr
Research Domain of This Article
Health Policy & Services
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Psychiatry. Jun 19, 2025; 15(6): 104796 Published online Jun 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i6.104796
Interplay between insomnia, anxiety, and depression
Güzel Nur Yıldız, Bahar Çiftçi
Güzel Nur Yıldız, Department of Dialysis, Muş Alparslan University, Muş 40199, Türkiye
Bahar Çiftçi, Department of Fundamental Nursing, Ataturk University, Erzurum 25240, Türkiye
Author contributions: Çiftçi B and Yıldız GN were involved in all stages of manuscript development, conducted a thorough literature review, contributed to drafting and structuring the manuscript, and carefully revised it to ensure accuracy and coherence; and both authors approved the final version for submission.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Bahar Çiftçi, Department of Fundamental Nursing, Ataturk University, HGF Agro, Ata Teknokent, Erzurum 25240, Türkiye. bahar.ciftci@atauni.edu.tr
Received: January 2, 2025 Revised: March 11, 2025 Accepted: April 7, 2025 Published online: June 19, 2025 Processing time: 147 Days and 22.3 Hours
Abstract
Insomnia, anxiety, and depression have become critical mental health issues exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, highlighting the importance of understanding their interrelationships. This article evaluates the study by Li et al, which investigates the links between insomnia, anxiety, and depression while examining the mediating role of cognitive failures and the moderating effect of neuroticism. The study employed a cross-sectional design with 1011 participants, using validated scales to measure insomnia severity, neuroticism, cognitive failures, and mental health indicators. Li et al found that approximately 40% of participants exhibited symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia, with most cases being mild. The results demonstrated that cognitive failures play a mediating role in the relationship between insomnia and both anxiety and depression. Furthermore, neuroticism moderated the relationship between insomnia and cognitive failures, with a stronger effect observed in individuals with lower levels of neuroticism. These findings underscore the importance of considering personality traits and cognitive processes in understanding mental health outcomes. This study emphasizes the critical need for interventions aimed at reducing cognitive failures and enhancing emotional stability to mitigate the impact of insomnia on mental health. Strategies to improve sleep quality, boost cognitive resilience, and regulate emotional responses could significantly enhance individuals’ mental well-being. Moreover, integrating personality assessments into mental health services could facilitate more effective and personalized interventions. This article provides an original perspective on the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on global mental health. The content of the article addresses the complex relationships between sleep disorders, cognitive function losses, and neuroticism in light of data compiled from existing literature and current research. In addition, how these relationships have deepened during the pandemic and the effectiveness of proposed treatment methods for these phenomena are discussed in comparison with previous studies. The arguments in the article offer new perspectives and suggestions aimed at filling gaps in the literature, and make an important contribution to both clinical practice and public health policies. Li et al’s study provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the connections between insomnia, cognitive failures, and neuroticism, as well as their influence on anxiety and depression. The findings offer valuable implications for public health strategies, emphasizing the necessity of holistic approaches to address post-pandemic mental health challenges.
Core Tip: The interplay between insomnia, anxiety, and depression highlights the significance of cognitive and personality factors in mental health. Li et al identify cognitive failures as mediators and neuroticism as a moderating factor in these relationships. The study provides actionable insights into tailoring interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and personality-informed care, to improve mental health outcomes in diverse populations. This article emphasizes the necessity of holistic and interdisciplinary approaches to mental health, especially in a post-pandemic context.
