RESTED: REbalancing circadian rhythms in Sleep and heart rate To Ease Dissociative symptoms

Our 3-year project will proceed in three phases. We will analyse an existing longitudinal dataset, collect a novel dataset and evaluate an intervention in young adults. Our key goals are to:

(1) understand the causal mechanisms linking sleep (multiple parameters and experiences), autonomic function (heart rate parameters), waking cognition and symptoms of dissociation, depression, anxiety and psychosis

(2) test and evaluate low-cost interventions for improving autonomic function, sleep and the above mental health symptoms.

Specifically, we will focus on depersonalisation-derealisation, a common but poorly researched dissociative symptom, which is not only intimately connected with altered sleep parameters but also a risk factor for anxiety, depression and psychosis. Our team of psychologists, computer scientists, lived-experience experts and mental health practitioners, collaborating with epidemiologists, statisticians, clinicians and business partners, will address our goals using a combination of methods. These include advanced mathematical modelling of our datasets, and real-world tracking and interventions with wearable and home-use devices. Overall the project will result in the synthesis and validation of novel circadian biomarkers, sleep sensing-technologies and analytic approaches. These will transform our understanding of the mechanisms linking sleep, heart rate and mental health symptoms and contribute evidence-based interventions to help young people with dissociative symptoms.