Natalie Solomon

All Publications

• https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-026-01698-y Reconsidering the dangerous normalization of postpartum sleep loss Davis, A., Solomon, N. 2026

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00737-026-01698-y

• Sleep disturbance and menopause. Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology Carmona, N. E., Solomon, N. L., Adams, K. E. 2025

  Abstract

  Sleep problems are among the most prevalent and bothersome symptoms of menopause. This review characterizes menopausal sleep disturbances, describes biopsychosocial predictors, and summarizes the evidence supporting pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options.Recent studies found that sleep changes are early indicators of perimenopause and sought to disentangle the respective impacts of menopausal status, hot flashes (HFs), and changes in reproductive hormones on peri-/postmenopausal sleep problems. Both HFs and reproductive hormones predicted sleep problems, but neither solely accounted for the myriad changes in sleep, thus highlighting the contribution of additional biopsychosocial risk factors. Inconsistencies across studies were likely due to differences in study design and methodology, participants' menopausal stage, and the presence of sleep complaints. Recent studies support the use of psychological (cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia) and pharmacological (e.g., neurokinin B antagonists) treatments in addition to hormone therapy.Sleep problems are common and of critical import to women during the menopausal transition, significantly influencing treatment preferences and satisfaction. Thus, sleep problems should be routinely assessed from a biopsychosocial perspective and treated with evidence-based interventions throughout menopause. Treatment selection should be based on diagnosis and careful assessment.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/GCO.0000000000001012

  View details for PubMedID 39820156

• The effects of a sleep intervention in the early COVID-19 pandemic on insomnia and depressive symptoms: Results of a randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of psychiatric research Osorno, R. A., Ahmadi, M., O'Hora, K. P., Solomon, N. L., Lopez, M., Morehouse, A. B., Kim, J. P., Manber, R., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N. 2025; 182: 319-328

  Abstract

  The COVID-19 Pandemic increased the prevalence and severity of insomnia and depression symptoms. The effects of an insomnia intervention on future insomnia and depression symptoms delivered during an ongoing stressor, which may have precipitated the insomnia symptoms, is unknown. We conducted a two-arm randomized controlled pilot study to evaluate whether an insomnia intervention would improve the trajectory of insomnia and depression symptoms in the context of a global pandemic. Forty-nine individuals with clinically significant insomnia symptoms that emerged after the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic were randomized to one of two groups: one group received four sessions of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) over five weeks via telehealth, and the other was assigned to a 28-week waitlist control group. Participants completed assessments of insomnia and depressive symptom severity at baseline (week 0) and at weeks 1-6, 12, and 28. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate treatment efficacy. The MacArthur model was used to test whether improvement in insomnia symptoms mediated subsequent improvement in mood. The CBT-I group showed improved trajectories of insomnia (b = -1.03, p < 0.005, 95% CI [-1.53, -0.53]) and depressive symptoms (b = -0.47, p = 0.007, [-0.80, -0.13]) across the 28 weeks compared to the control group. The rate of improvement of insomnia symptoms during treatment mediated the subsequent improvement in depressive symptom severity following treatment (b = 2.10, p = 0.024, [0.30, 3.90]). Although the sample size was small, these results underscore the potential CBT-I in the context of an ongoing stressor to not only alleviate insomnia symptoms, but also improve depressive symptoms.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.01.011

  View details for PubMedID 39842220

• Cognitive components Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in the Context of Comorbid Mental Health Callaway, C., Solomon, N., Gumport, N. 2025
• Feasibility and Acceptability of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and Prenatal Sleep Classes for Poor Prenatal Sleep Quality: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Behavioral sleep medicine Felder, J. N., Mirchandaney, R., Manber, R., Cuneo, J., Krystal, A., Solomon, N., Janette, S., Zhang, L., Moran, P., Mashash, M., Epel, E., Hecht, F. M. 2024: 1-15

  Abstract

  The main objectives of the current paper were to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and adherence of a remotely delivered intervention consisting of mindfulness-based stress reduction plus prenatal sleep classes (MBSR+PS) compared with treatment as usual (TAU).In this pilot randomized controlled trial, 52 pregnant women with poor sleep quality were randomized to MBSR+PS or TAU. MBSR was delivered through eight weekly 2.5-hour sessions, and PS was delivered through eight weekly 30-minute sessions. PS content drew material from cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia tailored for the perinatal period and from a mindfulness- and acceptance-based lens. Participants completed endpoint measures 10-12 weeks after randomization.We surpassed all acceptability targets, including the percentage of eligible participants willing to be randomized (96%), percentage of participants who initiated treatment (88%), and satisfaction scores (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 score M = 28.04, SD = 3.6). We surpassed all feasibility targets, including our enrollment target, retention rate (92%), and measure completion (96%). Finally, we surpassed adherence targets, including MBSR and PS session attendance (≥80%). Though sleep outcomes were exploratory, increases in sleep efficiency were greater in the MBSR+PS group relative to TAU (SMD=.68).Patient-reported poor sleep quality during pregnancy has high public health significance because it is common, consequential, and under-treated. The current feasibility and acceptability data for using remotely delivered MBSR and PS to improve prenatal sleep quality are encouraging and warranting future research that is sufficiently powered and designed to provide efficacy data. In addition, exploratory sleep outcomes offer preliminary evidence that this sleep program may improve sleep efficiency during pregnancy.

  View details for DOI 10.1080/15402002.2024.2359415

  View details for PubMedID 38850019

• Symptoms and survivorship needs differences between “good sleepers” and “bad sleepers” in survivors of breast and gynecologic cancers Sleep Medicine Palesh, O., Tolby, L. T., Hofmeister, E., Fisher, S., Solomon, N. L., Sackeyfio, S., Berek, J. S., Kurian, A. W., Cassidy-Eagle, E., Schapira, L. 2022

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.07.002

• Quantifying energy and fatigue Quantifying Quality of Life: Incorporating Daily Life into Medicine. Solomon, N. L., Manea, V. Springer. 2022: 79-117
• PILOT STUDY OF A NOVEL APPROACH MANAGEMENT OF SLEEP ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS (MOSAIC) DURING CHEMOTHERAPY Palesh, O., Solomon, N., Hofmeister, E., Booil, J., Cassidy-Eagle, E. L., Innominato, P. F., Fisher, S., Shen, H., Kesler, S. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2020: S647

  View details for Web of Science ID 000546262401517

• The impact of chronotype on prosocial behavior PLOS ONE Solomon, N. L., Zeitzer, J. M. 2019; 14 (4)

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0216309

  View details for Web of Science ID 000466364800043

• Survivorship care needs of breast and gynecologic cancer patients and survivors (N=220) Hofmeister, E., Solomon, N., Vaca, K., Torres, T., Shen, H., Kurian, A., Berek, J., Schapira, L., Palesh, O. 2019

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00520-019-04813-1