Scientists have just defined five sleep profiles — and some could help spot mental illness

A photo of a Roman statue of a woman sleeping.

Scientists have identified five distinct "sleep profiles."

And based on their analysis, the researchers concluded that there's more to a good night's sleep than the length of sleep or whether it was fitful. Both genetics and emotional states such as feeling down, anxious, stressed or sad contribute to sleep quality, and each sleep profile was tied to how well people functioned in various ways, researchers reported in a study published Oct. 7 in the journal PLOS Biology.