The effect of weighted blankets on sleep quality and related disorders: A review

Sleep disorders such as insomnia can lead to a range of health problems. Pharmacotherapy for insomnia often leads to a high risk of side effects and drug abuse, and thus a safer non-pharmacotherapy needs to be explored. Weighted blankets, made of special weight-adding materials such as beads and chains, have been gradually used in clinics as potential non-drug interventions. This paper examined the effect of weighted blankets on improving sleep quality in different populations, and explored the possible mechanisms through a systematic review of 33 relevant studies. Results showed that weighted blankets could effectively improve sleep quality and alleviate negative emotions in patients with sleep disorders, dementia, and other psychiatric disorders, with a possible mechanism of deep pressure touch. 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