Summary: A review led by Flinders University researcher Suzanne Dawson, PhD, examined 18 studies on the use of weighted blankets for improving sleep in adults and children. The review found strong evidence supporting their effectiveness in enhancing sleep, reducing medication use, and improving mood for adults, while results were more varied for children with conditions like ADHD and autism. The findings have led to changes in state-wide protocols for weighted blanket use in South Australia, highlighting the need for standardized clinical guidelines.
Key Takeaways:
- Weighted Blankets Improve Sleep in Adults: The review found significant evidence that weighted blankets improve sleep quality, reduce medication use, and enhance mood in adults.
- Mixed Results for Children: The effectiveness of weighted blankets in children, particularly those with conditions like ADHD and autism, showed mixed results, with some improvements in daily functioning but limited impact on sleep.
- Need for Clinical Guidelines: The study highlights the need for standardized clinical guidelines for the use of weighted blankets, including recommendations on type, weight, and duration of use.
Weighted blankets can help to improve sleep in adults with insomnia and other mental health conditions including anxiety and depression, but results are mixed for children, a new review has found.
Led by occupational therapist and Flinders University researcher Suzanne Dawson, PhD, the study found the blankets were effective in improving sleep, reducing medication use, and enhancing mood.
The finding has since been behind a change in state-wide protocols for weighted blanket use across public mental health services in South Australia.
“Sleep is a basic human need, and when someone isn’t getting enough, it can lead to numerous health issues as well as increase the risk of, or exacerbate, chronic conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and mental health issues,” says Dawson, from Flinders University’s Caring Futures Institute, in a release. “In occupational therapy, weighted blankets are becoming more common amongst many ages as an assistive technology, but no current clinical guidelines exist for their use.”
Studies Investigating the Use of Weighted Blankets
Published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, the authors looked at 18 existing studies that investigated the use of weighted blankets overnight.
The review found significant evidence supporting the use of weighted blankets for improving sleep among adults.
“Weighted blankets seem to offer a tangible, non-drug intervention for improving sleep quality,” says Dawson in a release. “Adults who used the blankets reported better sleep, reduced use of sleep medications, and even improvements in mood and pain management.”
Weighted Blankets for Children?
Despite strong evidence for adult use, findings were mixed for the use of weighted blankets with children, with limited sleep improvements for children with conditions such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorder.
However, some parents reported positive outcomes from their use, and some studies showed an improvement in children’s daily functioning, following use of a weighted blanket.
“Parents often reported that their children appeared more relaxed, less anxious, and more focused during daily activities when using the blankets, which could have a long-term impact on their overall well-being,” says Dawson in a release.
The authors note that for children, and adults with cognitive difficulties, any blanket used should be able to be easily removed by the individual themselves.
A Need for Clinical Guidelines
While the findings show overnight use of weighted blankets can be recommended for adults and trialed in children, the authors say the next step is to develop clear clinical guidelines for the blankets’ use.
“This scoping review was conducted to inform practice change, and we are pleased that the findings were used to change the state-wide protocols for use of weighted blankets across public mental health services in South Australia,” says Dawson in a release. “Blankets come in in various types, from containing beads or chains, and various weights, but as yet no standardized recommendations exist, including type, weight, frequency of use, or duration. While more rigorous research is needed to find their optimal use, use of weighted blankets should be further explored in practice.”
Dawson is also in the last stages of a related project that assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of weighted blankets as a sleep intervention for people living with dementia.
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