Decreasing Agitation in Patients With Dementia Through the Use of Weighted Blankets

NCT ID: NCT03643991

Last Updated: 2025-12-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-04-11

Study Completion Date

2025-11-30

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this research study is to determine whether the use of weighted blankets help reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms, including agitation in people with dementia.

Detailed Description

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The Intervention Group

1. Patient or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) will be asked to sign a consent form and will have the study explained.
2. Nursing staff will complete baseline assessments to measure behavioral disturbances using the CMAI and CGI and other distressing symptoms using the ESAS-r.
3. A weighted blanket, based on admission body weight, will be provided to the patient under nursing supervision.
4. For 3 consecutive days after each use of weighted blanket, nursing staff will complete morning assessments to measure behavioral disturbances using the CMAI and CGI and other distressing symptoms using the ESAS-r.
5. At the end of the intervention, nursing staff will complete post-intervention assessments to measure behavioral disturbances using the CMAI and CGI and other distressing symptoms using the ESAS-r.

Control Group:

1. Patient or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) will be asked to sign a consent form and will have the study explained.
2. The study team will recruit a group of patients with similar characteristics as described in the inclusion criteria; however, the patient will not receive the weighted blanket, but undergo the same assessments as described in 1-5 (above) and in the Schedule of Assessments.

Conditions

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Dementia

Keywords

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Agitation Dementia Inpatient

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Enrolled patients will be computer randomized in 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group or the control group.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Weighted Blanket Cohort

Subjects will receive weighted blanket for three nights with monitoring by nurse. Weight of blanket is determined by weight of the patient (10% of patients body weight).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Weighted Blanket

Intervention Type OTHER

Weighted blanket will be given to patients based on the patient weight (10% of patients body weight) for three nights while on inpatient unit.

Control Cohort

Subjects will receive treatment as usual while inpatient, no blanket.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Weighted Blanket

Weighted blanket will be given to patients based on the patient weight (10% of patients body weight) for three nights while on inpatient unit.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients admitted on the inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit, complex interventions unit, internal medicine service and/or admitted hospice GIP
* Documented diagnosis of dementia or suspected major neurocognitive disorder.
* Presence of agitation/aggression symptoms as defined by a minimum aggression score on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory Short Version (CMAI): Patients must score 3, 4, or 5 on at least one question related to aggression (items 1-4).
* Have a LAR able to sign the consent on behalf of the patient.

Exclusion Criteria

* Severe pain likely to be exacerbated by use of weighted blanket
* Inability to remove blanket;
* Skin burns or open wounds;
* Admitted on 72 hour hold.
Minimum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Maria I. Lapid, M.D.

Principle Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Maria Lapid, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Locations

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Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Schenzel HA, Palmer AK, Shah NB, Lawson DK, Fischer KM, Lapid MI, DeFoster RE. Weighted Blankets for Agitation in Hospitalized Patients with Dementia: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Feb 26;14:e57264. doi: 10.2196/57264.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40009836 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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17-009951

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id