A systematic review on automatic identification of insomnia

Background. Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulties in initiating sleep or experiencing non-restorative sleep. It is a multifaceted condition that impacts both the quantity and quality of an individual's sleep. Recent advancements in machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) have enabled automated sleep analysis using physiological signals. This has led to the development of technologies for more accurate detection of various sleep disorders, including insomnia. This paper explores the algorithms and techniques for automatic insomnia detection. Methods. We followed the recommendations given in the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) during our process of content discovery. Our review encompasses research papers published between 2015 and 2023, with a specific emphasis on automating the identification of insomnia. From a selection of well-regarded journals, we included more than 30 publications dedicated to insomnia detection. In our analysis, we assessed the performance of various methods for detecting insomnia, considering different datasets and physiological signals. A common thread across all the papers we reviewed was the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) models, trained and tested using annotated physiological signals. Upon closer examination, we identified the utilization of 15 distinct algorithms for this detection task. Results. The major goal of this research is to conduct a thorough study to categorize, compare, and assess the key traits of automated systems for identifying insomnia. Our analysis offers complete and in-depth information. The essential components under investigation in the automated technique include the data input source, objective, ML and DL network, training framework, and references to databases. We classified pertinent research studies based on ML and DL model perspectives, considering factors like learning structure and input data types. Conclusion. Based on our review of the studies featured in this paper, we have identified a notable research gap in the current methods for identifying insomnia and opportunities for future advancements in the automation of insomnia detection. While the current techniques have shown promising results, there is still room for improvement in terms of accuracy and reliability. Future developments in technology and machine learning algorithms could help address these limitations and enable more effective and efficient identification of insomnia.