Outcome Measures in Evaluation of Weighted Blankets: A Scoping Review.
Maria Lönn, Ellen Odéus
PMID 40018070WHAT IT FOUND
Weighted blanket research is too varied to combine into a single effectiveness score.
Adults usually get measured for immediate anxiety relief using simple scales, while children are assessed via sleep trackers and diaries. Standardised tools for long-term effects and daily routines are missing.
Key findings
01The review included 38 studies evaluating weighted blankets for sleep or anxiety, comprising 12 randomized controlled trials, 13 pre-post studies, six case studies, and one survey.
02For adults, anxiety was most often measured immediately during use with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory or a Visual Analogue Scale, while sleep was tracked using actigraphy or wearables.
03Research on children focused almost exclusively on those with autism or ADHD, using actigraphy and sleep diaries, but lacked subjective reports of anxiety or distress.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The review did not assess the quality or risk of bias in the included studies. It did not evaluate the psychometric properties of the outcome measures used. Daytime function and sensory profiles were not systematically collected, limiting understanding of broader impacts. The included studies varied widely in design and population, preventing a meta-analysis of effectiveness. The authors are occupational therapists with experience prescribing weighted blankets, which may introduce bias in interpretation.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest, but noted a positionality statement: both authors are occupational therapists who have prescribed weighted blankets in clinical settings. This dual role as researchers and practitioners was acknowledged as a potential source of bias, though mitigated by following PRISMA guidelines and independent review processes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this review as evidence that weighted blankets are effective or ineffective for sleep or anxiety. It maps how researchers have measured outcomes, not what the outcomes were. The lack of standardised measures means we cannot yet combine results to determine true clinical efficacy.