ArticleBMJ open2025
Non-invasive brain stimulation for the treatment of sleep disorders in psychiatric conditions-systematic review protocol.
Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionSleep disturbances are highly prevalent among individuals with psychiatric conditions and significantly impair cognitive, emotional and behavioural functioning. Pharmacotherapy for sleep disturbances carries a risk of dependence and adverse effects, while behavioural therapies are often insufficient. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel interventions. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial electrical stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy, have shown potential in modulating neural circuits involved in sleep regulation, yet their clinical utility remains uncertain. This protocol outlines a systematic review aiming to evaluate the efficacy, safety and optimal parameters of NIBS for treating sleep disturbances in psychiatric conditions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The review will adhere to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and is registered with PROSPERO. Two reviewers will independently perform a literature search, extract data and assess research quality. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in four databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science. Eligible studies will comprise randomised and non-randomised controlled trials, open-label studies, observational designs, case reports and case series. Analysed outcomes will include subjective and objective sleep measures, daytime functioning, changes in psychiatric symptoms and adverse events. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, ROBINS-I and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Where possible, data will be synthesised through meta-analysis; otherwise, tabular summary and narrative synthesis will be provided. The certainty of evidence will be assessed using the grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation framework. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethical approval is required as this study will involve analysis of already published data. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420251053488.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.