Weighted Blankets Lowered Anxiety 3.6 Points in Pilot Trial

Anxiety treatment that doesn’t involve drugs carries extra weight for folks with co-occurring conditions because using meds might lead to an addiction. New research indicates that a weighted blanket lowered anxiety among hospitalized adults when compared to the usual care.

The study is the first look at weighted blankets in acutely ill and hospitalized adults. Older studies examined dental and inpatient mental health facilities and occupational therapy clinics.

Mental Health & Addictions

Anxiety disorders commonly co-occur with substance use disorders. In fact, anxiety often precedes substance use and drug use worsens anxiety.

Benzodiazepines are effective for anxiety and carry a real dependence risk. That makes benzo a tough choice for someone with a history of drug use. That’s where the blankets come in. Every nondrug tool that measurably reduces anxiety gives folks another option to avoid a potential drug dependency.

Hospital settings raise the stakes some more. A patient admitted for a medical problem with a substance use disorder may be coping with pain and depression all at the same time.

The Study in Action

A team of nurses supported by biostatisticians ran the pilot at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City out in Missouri. It’s part of BJC Health West Region in the Show-Me State. Charge nurses and direct care nurses identified potential participants between March 2023 and February 2025.

The final sample was 54 patients randomly assigned to two groups. Each patient gave a series of anxiety ratings from 0 to 10 at 20-minute intervals for an hour.

One group received the weighted blanket during the first 20 minutes. They then got 20 minutes of usual care. The second group got the reverse order. Both groups finished with a third usual-care period so researchers could look for lasting effects after the blanket came off.

In both groups, the largest change in self-reported anxiety came immediately after the weighted blanket period. The difference against usual care was 3.6 points on the 10-point scale.

More than 80% of patients in both groups found the blanket calming. But 26% reported the temperature under it was too hot under the covers and 33% stated the 15-pound weight too heavy.

In fact, 33% didn’t want the blanket at all because it weighed too much. This means providers might want to have several weights ready rather than just a standard one.

Treating Dual Diagnosis

Integrated treatment matters because looking at one condition and ignoring others usually fail. Untreated anxiety drives return to drug use and continued use undermines anxiety treatment. Programs built for dual diagnosis treat both from the same care plan.

Anxiety treatment in dual diagnosis care generally centers on behavioral therapy and trauma-focused approaches. Medication management is individualized for those with substance use histories to avoid habit-forming options like benzodiazepines.

Sensory tools like weighted blankets belong in the comfort category alongside guided breathing and other holistic approaches. It’s good that blankets are cheap, carry little risk for most folks and produce a measurable effect in an hour. 

Security Blankets for All

Our browsable directory features mental health treatment facilities and dual diagnosis programs with details on conditions treated, levels of care and insurance accepted. 

Feel free to also dial 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) for free and confidential guidance at 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) . It’s staffed 24 hours a day.