66823
document
Weighted blankets and sleep in autistic children -- a randomized controlled trial . OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of a weighted-blanket intervention in treating severe sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) . METHODS This phase III trial was a randomized , placebo-controlled crossover design . Participants were aged between 5 years and 16 years 10 months , with a confirmed ASD diagnosis and severe sleep problems , refractory to community-based interventions . The interventions were either a commercially available weighted blanket or otherwise identical usual weight blanket ( control ) , introduced at bedtime ; each was used for a 2-week period before crossover to the other blanket . Primary outcome was total sleep time ( TST ) recorded by actigraphy over each 2-week period . Secondary outcomes included actigraphically recorded sleep-onset latency , sleep efficiency , assessments of child behavior , family functioning , and adverse events . Sleep was also measured by using parent-report diaries . RESULTS Seventy-three children were randomized and analysis conducted on 67 children who completed the study . Using objective measures , the weighted blanket , compared with the control blanket , did not increase TST as measured by actigraphy and adjusted for baseline TST . There were no group differences in any other objective or subjective measure of sleep , including behavioral outcomes . On subjective preference measures , parents and children favored the weighted blanket . CONCLUSIONS The use of a weighted blanket did not help children with ASD sleep for a longer period of time , fall asleep significantly faster , or wake less often . However , the weighted blanket was favored by children and parents , and blankets were well tolerated over this period .
66824
Intervention_Other
Weighted blankets
66825
Intervention_Other
weighted-blanket intervention
66826
Intervention_Other
commercially available weighted blanket or otherwise identical usual weight blanket
66827
Intervention_Other
weighted blanket
66828
Intervention_Control
control blanket
66829
Intervention_Other
weighted blanket
66830
Intervention_Other
weighted blanket
66831
Intervention_Other
weighted blanket
66832
Outcome_Mental
total sleep time
66833
Outcome_Physical
( TST )
66834
Outcome_Physical
actigraphically recorded sleep-onset latency
66835
Outcome_Mental
,
66836
Outcome_Other
sleep efficiency
66837
Outcome_Mental
assessments of child behavior
66838
Outcome_Mental
family functioning
66839
Outcome_Adverse-effects
adverse events
66840
Outcome_Mental
TST
66841
Outcome_Other
objective or subjective measure of sleep
66842
Outcome_Other
well tolerated
66843
Participant_Condition
autistic children -- a
66844
Participant_Condition
severe sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) .
66845
Participant_Condition
Participants were aged between 5 years and 16 years 10 months , with a confirmed ASD diagnosis and severe sleep problems , refractory to community-based interventions .