The effectiveness of weighted blankets on sleep and everyday activities – A retrospective follow-up study of children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and/or autism spectrum disorder

Figures & data

Figure 1. Study flow chart.

Table 1. An overview of the questions in the semi-structured interview based on the ICF.

ICF domain		ICF category	ICF code	Example of sub questions
Question 2	Body functions	Sleep functions (b134)	Onset of sleep (b1341) Amount of sleep (b1340) Maintenance of sleep (b1342)	‘Why did you start using the weighted blanket?’ a) Due to difficulties falling asleep/ prolonged onset of sleep b) Difficulties sleeping through the night c) Difficulties relaxing during the day
Question 3 & 4	Activities and participation	General tasks and demands (d2)	Carrying out daily routines (d230)	‘Do you perceive that using the weighted blanket has influenced your morning/evening routines?’ If yes, please give examples on how.
Question 5	Activities and participation	Self-Care (d5)	Toileting (d530) Dressing (d540) Eating (d550)	‘How has the weighted blanket influenced your evening routines?’ Please give examples. a) Preparing/eating dinner b) Going to sleep
	Body functions	Sleep functions (b124)	Quality of sleep (b1343)	c) Sleeping through the night
Question 6 & 7	Activities and participation	Self-Care (d5)	Dressing (d540) Eating (d550) Education (d810–d830) Work and employment (d840–d850)	‘How has the weighted blanket influenced your morning routines?’ Please give examples. a) Wakening/going up b) Eating breakfast c) Going to school/work
Question 8	Activities and participation	Mobility (d4) Domestic life (d6) Community, Social and Civic life (d9)	Walking and moving (d450–d469) Moving around using transportation (d470) Household tasks (d630–d640) Recreation and leisure (d920)	‘How has the weighted blanket influenced your afternoon routines?’ Please give examples. a) Going home from school/work b) Doing household chores (cooking, dishes, laundry) c) Engaging in leisure activities

Table 2. Description of the participants’ diagnosis at time of prescription of a weighted blanket, n (%).

	ASD	ASD + ADHD	ASD + behavioural/ Mental disorders^a	ADHD	ADHD + behavioural/ Mental disorders^a
Children (≤17 years of age) 48 (56.5)	2 (12.5)	11 (50.0)	1 (12.5)	29 (90.6)	5 (71.4)
Adults (≥18 years of age) 37 (43.5)	14 (37.8)	11 (50.0)	7 (87.5)	3 (9.4)	2 (28.6)
TOTAL 85 (100)	16 (87.5)	22 (25.9)	8 (9.4)	32 (37.6)	7 (8.3)

^a Includes comorbid disorders such as Tics disorder, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, specific developmental disorders of speech and language, Phobic anxiety disorders, Mood affective disorders.

Table 3. Weighted blanket use and daily activities.

	Total sample (n = 85)	Children (≤17; n = 48)	Adults (≥18; n = 37)	P (children vs adults)
	N (%)	N (%)	N (%)
Overall improvement in daily routines	38 (45.8)	18 (37.5)	20 (57.1)	ns
Evening routines
Preparing/eating dinner	1 (1.2)	1 (2.1)	0 (0)	ns
Preparing/Going to sleep	49 (59.0)	33 (68.8)	16 (45.7)	<0.05
Sleeping through the night	67 (80.7)	36 (75.0)	31 (88.6)	ns
Morning routines
Wakening/going up	22 (25.9)	15 (31.3)	7 (20.0)	ns
Eating breakfast	6 (7.2)	5 (10.4)	1 (2.9)	ns
Going to school/work	6 (7.2)	4 (8.3)	2 (5.7)	ns
Going home from school/work	3 (3.6)	2 (4.2)	1 (2.9)	ns
Activities in school/work	14 (16.9)	5 (10.4)	9 (25.7)	ns
Doing homework/work related tasks at home	6 (7.1)	3 (6.3)	3 (8.6)	ns
Leisure activities	5 (6.0)	2 (4.2)	3 (8.1)	ns