Weighted Blankets Can Reduce Patients’ Anxiety

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - Sept. 1, 2026 – Use of a weighted blanket can reduce anxiety in acutely ill, hospitalized adult patients, according to new research in American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC).

“Weighted Blankets to Reduce Anxiety in Hospitalized Patients” found patients reported significantly lower anxiety after a short treatment session with a 15-pound weighted blanket. The study is unique in its setting and patient population, with no previously published studies examining the blankets’ use with acutely ill, hospitalized adults.

A team of nurses, supported by biostatisticians, conducted the small pilot study at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, part of BJC Health West Region. Co-author Marci Ebberts, MSN, FNP-C, CCRN, is program director of nursing research at the hospital.

“Weighted blankets have been shown to provide therapeutic benefits in a variety of settings, including dental offices, inpatient mental health facilities and occupational therapy clinics,” she said. “Hospitalized patients often experience heightened anxiety, which can negatively affect their recovery, sleep and mental health. Our study found that a short treatment period with a weighted blanket can ease their anxiety significantly more than other nonpharmacologic methods, even after the blanket is removed.”

Initially used specifically for patients with autism spectrum disorders, weighted blankets have surged in mainstream popularity in healthcare and home settings, offering relief from insomnia, stress and other conditions.

From March 2023 through February 2025, charge nurses worked with direct care nurses in a variety of inpatient units to identify potential participants who met the screening criteria. A nurse on the project team then reviewed the patient’s record for other inclusion and exclusion criteria and, if appropriate, spoke to the patient to explain the study and gain consent. The study’s final sample consisted of 54 patients who were randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Soon after a patient was enrolled in the study and provided consent, an initial anxiety rating on a scale of 0 to 10 was recorded as a baseline, followed by three assessments at 20-minute intervals during the hour-long intervention.

One patient group received the weighted blanket intervention during the first 20-minute period, followed by usual care guided by patient preference with no specific treatment protocol for another 20 minutes. The second group received usual care for 20 minutes, followed by the weighted blanket intervention. The intervention concluded with a third period of usual care for both groups to explore any lasting effect of the blanket on anxiety.

In both groups, the greatest change in the patient’s self-reported anxiety level occurred immediately after the weighted blanket period. A 3.6-point reduction in anxiety (on a 10-point scale) was observed with weighted blankets versus usual care. In addition, trends through the final 20-minute period, with usual care provided, suggest a continued, carryover effect of the weighted blanket after its removal.

A brief exit survey provided additional insights, with more than 80% of both groups finding the blanket calming; however, 26% found the temperature under the blanket too hot, and 33% felt that the 15-pound blanket was too heavy.

To access the article and full-text PDF, visit the AJCC website at www.ajcconline.org.

About the American Journal of Critical Care: The American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC), a bimonthly scientific journal published by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, provides leading-edge clinical research, with features that highlight bedside applications of select research articles. Established in 1992, the award-winning journal includes clinical and research studies, brief reports, editorials and commentaries that address questions relevant to critical care nursing, interprofessional practice and critical care delivery. AJCC enjoys a circulation of more than 136,000 acute and critical care nurses and can be accessed at https://www.ajcconline.org

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About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 55 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with more than 136,000 members and about 170 chapters in the United States.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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