Open this publication in new window or tab >>Show others...
2024 (English)In: Journal of Sleep Research, ISSN 0962-1105, E-ISSN 1365-2869, article id e13990Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Weighted blankets are a non-pharmacological intervention for treating sleep and anxiety problems in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. However, research on the efficacy of weighted blankets is sparse. The aim of this randomized controlled trial with a crossover design (4 + 4 weeks) was to evaluate the efficacy of weighted blankets on sleep among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and sleeping problems. Children diagnosed with uncomplicated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with verified sleep problems were randomized to start with either a weighted blanket or a lighter control blanket. Data collection was performed at weeks 0, 4 and 8 using actigraphy, questionnaires and a daily sleep diary. T-tests were used to evaluate efficacy. The study included 94 children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (mean age 9.0 [sd 2.2] years; 54 [57.4%] boys). Weighted blankets had a significant effect on total sleep time (mean diff. 7.72 min, p = 0.027, Cohen's d = 0.24), sleep efficiency (mean diff. 0.82%, p = 0.038, Cohen's d = 0.23) and wake after sleep onset (mean diff. −2.79 min, p = 0.015, Cohen's d = −0.27), but not on sleep-onset latency (p = 0.432). According to our exploratory subgroup analyses, weighted blankets may be especially beneficial for improving total sleep time in children aged 11–14 years (Cohen's d = 0.53, p = 0.009) and in children with the inattentive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder subtype (Cohen's d = 0.58, p = 0.016). Our results suggest that weighted blankets may improve children's sleep and could be used as an alternative to pharmacological sleep interventions. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Sleep Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Sleep Research Society.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc., 2024
Keywords
actigraphy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, randomized controlled trial, sleep intervention, sleep problems
National Category
Psychiatry Medical and Health Sciences
Research subject
Health Innovation, IDC
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-51406 (URN)10.1111/jsr.13990 (DOI)001028827400001 ()37452697 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85165257033 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Knowledge Foundation, 20200012Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2021-00664Region Halland
Note
Funding: This work was supported by external grants from The Knowledge Foundation [number 20200012], Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare (Forte) [number 2021-00664]; Majblomman foundation and different grants from Region Halland.
2023-08-152023-08-152024-07-11Bibliographically approved