Stockholm university
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Stress and sleep: from bench to bedside

The purpose of this course is to provide in-depth knowledge of how stress and sleep are related to mental and physical health, and of the relationship between stress and sleep.

The course also develops critical thinking about relevant research, and opportunity to apply an interdisciplinary perspective to psychological as well as physiological and pathological conditions.

The course gives an overview of central concepts and current research in stress, sleep and health.

In particular, it focuses is on how acute stress, chronic stress, circadian rhythm and sleep disorders affect physiological systems such as the immune system, endocrine systems, cognition and mental health.

The course includes neuroscientific and other biological knowledge and also describes interventions to reduce stress and sleep-related problems. Models and methods for understanding and studying such events will be used.

Sleep lab 3. Photo: Jens Olof Lasthein
  • Course structure

    As a registered student on this course you will find detailed course information and communication in the learning platform Athena. Login with your university account.

    This course will be given as a distance course in the third quarter of the autumn semester, full-time studies.

    Course instructions
    Stress and sleep: From bench to bedside, 7,5 credits. Autumn 2023 (213 Kb)  (According a similar but older syllabus)

    Teaching format

    Instruction is given in the form of lectures and seminars.

    Participation in seminars is a mandatory element of the course.

    The course is given remotely.

    The language of instruction is English.

    Learning outcomes

    In order to pass the course, the student is expected to be able to:

    1. Understand, describe and critically discuss relevant theories and empirics regarding how stress and sleep affect health, as well as the fundamental mechanisms of these relationships
    2. Critically reflect on and discuss research articles in the field
    3. Design an appropriate research plan for the effects of stress and sleep on health, and critically discuss this research design in relation to relevant literature.
    4. Present a research plan orally and in writing, as well as being able to critically reflect and discuss other students' research plans.

    Assessment

    The course is examined through an individual written assignment.

    Examiner

    Course leader: Julie Lasselin, julie.lasselin@su.se.

  • Schedule

    The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.
  • Course literature

    Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.

    A complete list of course readings is found in the course syllabus.

    The list is subject to change until two months prior to the start of the course. In case the new course syllabus is missing on this page by then, please check with the course leader before you buy any expensive books etc.

  • More information

    This course is offered as an elective course in the International two-year master’s program in psychology, 120 credits.

    The course is also offered as a freestanding course on advanced level.

  • Contact

    Registered students should primarily use Athena for teacher communication.

    To contact the Student office or a Student Councellor, see below.

    More contacts in Education

    Student office - Master's level
    Study councellor - Master's level