Background: Weighted blankets have recently introduced in the treatment on insomnia as a nonpharmacological integrative therapy. Here we prospectively evaluated the effects of weighted blankets on the sleep structure and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with primary psychophysiological insomnia.
Methods: In this prospective polysomnographic (PSG) study between August 2021 and August 2022, patients were given weighted blankets (~10% of body weight) to use at home for 10 nights consecutively. Clinical examination and scales including Turkish Version of Basic Scale on Insomnia Complaints, Quality of Sleep (BaSIQS), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were performed before and after therapy.
Results: The mean age of a total of 26 patients was 48.7 ± 9.4 years, and 69.2% were males. Sixteen patients (69.2%) showed benefit from weighted blankets as measured by BaSIQS (P=.005) and PSQI (P=.003). In objective PSG measures, sleep latency was also decreased (P=.040) with increased percentage of N3 sleep (P=.034). On the other side, obstructive apnea-hypopnea index was significantly increased (P=.038). Heart rate variability parameters did not show significant changes.
Conclusion: Weighted blankets should be considered as a promising non-pharmacological option in practical therapies of chronic psychophysiological insomnia. An increase in obstructive apneas/ hypopneas necessities a screening for sleep apnea.