Effectiveness of Anxiety Reduction in Adults by Weighted Blanket Interventions: A Mini Review

as complementary therapy to people with mental disorders (see for example [9]).One form of sensory modality is deep pressure stimulation-DPS (see for example [10]).Studies suggest that DPS activates pressure receptors underneath the skin so that cortisol level decreases, while vagal tone increases [11].This leads to an increase in parasympathetic arousal of the autonomic nervous system while reducing sympathetic arousal, providing a calming effect [11].However, some DPS methods such as massage therapy require administration by a provider, thereby limiting frequency and availability.Moreover, some mental health patients may prefer to avoid touch by others (see for example [12][13][14].Weighted blankets offer an alternative noninvasive, self-applied form of DPS that is available to the patient when needed without direct interaction with a provider [15].To date, weighted blankets were shown to improve sleep quality in people with insomnia and daytime fatigue, older people living in nursing homes, and children with sleep disorders associated with, for example, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders [16][17][18].