Weighted blanket and sleep medication use among adults with psychiatric diagnosis - a population-based register study

The effect of weighted blankets on sleep and related disorders: a brief review

Background

Sleep disorders such as insomnia can lead to a range of health problems. The high risk of side effects and drug abuse of traditional pharmacotherapy calls for a safer non-pharmacotherapy.

Aims

To examine the use and efficacy of weighted blankets in improving sleep and related disorders in different populations and explore the possible mechanisms.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and CNKI databases. Eligible studies included an intervention with weighted blankets and outcomes covering sleep and/or related disorders (behavioral disturbance, negative emotions and daytime symptoms). Studies using other deep pressure, compression, or exercise-related interventions were excluded.

Conclusions

Most of the included studies showed that weighted blankets could effectively improve sleep quality and alleviate negative emotions and daytime symptoms in patients with sleep disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and other related disorders, with a possible mechanism of deep pressure touch.

Recommendations

Weighted blankets might be a promising tool for sleep interventions among individuals with sleep disorders in clinical settings. More high-quality and large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to further validate the safety and efficacy of weighted blankets and explore precise mechanisms.

Interventions to improve the sleep quality of adults with personality disorder: A systematic review

Poor quality sleep is common for people who have a diagnosis of personality disorder (PD). Core cognitive and behavioral features of PD may cause and perpetuate poor sleep, but to date, no review has collated the evidence on the efficacy of interventions to improve sleep quality for people with PD. Structured searches for interventional studies among adults with PD and reporting validated measures of sleep quality were conducted up to November 2022 in multiple databases. Single-case reports were excluded. Study quality was assessed with standardized risk of bias tools. Unreported data was sought systematically from authors. This review was pre-registered with an international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42021282105). Of the 3503 identified studies, nine met inclusion criteria, representing a range of psychological, pharmaceutical, and other interventions and outcome measures. Meta-analytic methods were not feasible because of the serious risk of bias in all studies, and results were therefore synthesized narratively. There is limited and low-quality evidence of the effects of a variety of interventions to improve the sleep quality of people living with PD. Further research might consider specifically including people diagnosed with PD in trials of sleep interventions and using sleep outcome measures in trials of established PD treatments.

Experiences of Using Weighted Blankets among Children with ADHD and Sleeping Difficulties

Introduction

Sleeping difficulties are common in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A sleep intervention with weighted blankets was designed to increase current understanding of using weighted blankets to target children's individual needs in connection with sleep and daytime functioning.

Aim

To explore how children with ADHD and sleeping difficulties experience the use of weighted blankets.

Methods

An explorative qualitative design in which 26 children with ADHD and sleeping difficulties, 6-15 years old, were interviewed about a sleep intervention with weighted blankets. Four categories emerged from qualitative content analysis.

Results

Children's experiences revealed that the use of weighted blankets 1) requires a commitment, by adjusting according to needs and preferences and adapting to the environment; 2) improves emotional regulation by feeling calm and feeling safe; 3) changes sleeping patterns by creating new routines for sleep and improving sleep quality; and 4) promotes everyday participation by promoting daily function and balancing activity and sleep.

Conclusions

Using weighted blankets promoted children's management of daily life with ADHD and sleeping difficulties. Occupational therapists can improve the assessment and delivery of weighted blankets tailored to individual needs based on increased knowledge from the children themselves.

Weighted blankets for sleep problems - prescription, use and cost analysis

BACKGROUND

Weighted blankets (WBs) have been suggested as a treatment option for insomnia and are commonly prescribed despite lack of evidence of efficacy.

AIM

To investigate prescription pattern, return rate and cost of WBs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This observational cohort register-based study in western Sweden included every individual who, in a 2.5-year period, was prescribed and received at least one WB (n = 4092). A cost evaluation was made by mapping prescription processes for WBs and sleep medication.

RESULTS

Individuals diagnosed with dementia, anxiety, autism or intellectual disability (ID) retained the WB longer than others. Individuals younger than six and older than 65 years had shorter use time. The cost evaluation showed that the prescription process for WBs was longer and resulted in a higher cost than for sleep medication.

CONCLUSIONS

Some individuals had longer use time, indicating a possible benefit from using a WB. Due to low risk of harm but high economic cost, a revision of the WBs prescription process could be recommended to identify those who might benefit from WB.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our result points towards a need for revision of the prescription process, to implement standardized sleep assessments, and create a more efficient prescription process to lower the cost.