User Experiences of Ball Blankets in Adults with Depression-Related Insomnia: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study

Abstract

Insomnia is prevalent in patients suffering from depression and may itself exacerbate the disability associated with depression and impede the path to recovery. Although crucial in ensuring meaningful interactions and interventions for patients, research on patients’ experiences of depression-related insomnia and its treatment is limited. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate how adult patients with depression-related insomnia experience sleeping with a weighted Protac Ball Blanket®, focusing on how the blanket feels and works and contributes to their subjective sleep quality experience. An inductive content analysis approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 patients. Four categories were identified: 1) Deep and dynamic touch pressure from the plastic balls induced calmness; 2) Changing sensory impressions from the rolling balls distracted attention from distressing thoughts and emotions; 3) The ball blanket improved the quality and quantity of sleep, which increased daily well-being; 4) Sleeping with the ball blanket was associated with positive as well as negative experiences depending on personal preferences for sensory stimulation. This study explains how the Protac Ball Blanket® as a potential non-pharmacological sleep-intervention improved the sleep of adult patients with depression-related insomnia. The blanket was found meaningful for coping with sleeplessness and with mental and physical unrest.

Acknowledgements

The research team takes this opportunity to express their gratitude to the participants for their willingness to share valuable experiences. Furthermore, we thank project nurses Vicki Häker Berglund and Mathilde Dalgaard, and occupational therapist Anette Bournonville Kjær Wester and consultant Susie Andersen for recruiting eligible participants for the study; and research assistant Iben Rask Heuck who assisted STK with the transcription of interviews.

We also thank the Innovation Fund Denmark, Oestergade 26 A, 4^th Floor, 1100 Copenhagen K; Protac A/S, Niels Bohrs Vej 31D, 8660 Skanderborg, and Aarhus University, Department of Public Health, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark for funding.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Danish Scientific Ethics Committee (1-10-72-204-18), Innovation Fund Denmark (7038-00157B) and the Data Protection Agency internally at Aarhus University (2016-051-000001, 1159) before patient enrolment and followed the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The trial registration number from where patients were recruited: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03730974.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available on request due to privacy/ethical restrictions.

Additional information

Funding

This is an industry-supported study adhering to Innovation Fund Denmark guidelines for industrial PhDs. The company Protac A/S covered 50% of STK’s salary and Innovation Fund Denmark covered the remaining 50%. The funding sources had no influence on the study design, analysis, interpretation of data or the decision to submit the results. Furthermore, the study data are owned by Aarhus University.