Decreasing Agitation in Patients With Dementia Through the Use of Weighted Blankets
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03643991 |
Recruitment Status :
Enrolling by invitation
First Posted : August 23, 2018
Last Update Posted : February 24, 2023
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Dementia | Other: Weighted Blanket | Not Applicable |
The Intervention Group
- Patient or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) will be asked to sign a consent form and will have the study explained.
- Nursing staff will complete baseline assessments to measure behavioral disturbances using the CMAI and CGI and other distressing symptoms using the ESAS-r.
- A weighted blanket, based on admission body weight, will be provided to the patient under nursing supervision.
- 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.
- 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:
- Patient or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) will be asked to sign a consent form and will have the study explained.
- 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.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 30 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Enrolled patients will be computer randomized in 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group or the control group. |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Decreasing Agitation in Patients With Dementia Through the Use of Weighted Blankets: A Pilot Study |
Actual Study Start Date : | April 11, 2018 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | March 2026 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | March 2026 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: 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).
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Other: 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. |
No Intervention: Control Cohort
Subjects will receive treatment as usual while inpatient, no blanket.
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- Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory Short Version (CMAI) Change [ Time Frame: At baseline, days 1-3, and then within 72 hours of last use of the weighted blanket ]Assess the agitation/aggression outcome using numeric scales ranging from 1-5. The sum of the scores is defined as the agitation/aggression outcome and ranges from 14-70, with the lower score being the better outcome.
- The revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Revised (ESAS-r) Change [ Time Frame: At baseline and within 72 hours of the last use of the weighted blanket. ]Assessment of symptoms in palliative patients using numeric analog scales ranging from 0 to 10 to assess levels of pain, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, appetite, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, and well-being. The sum of the scores for all symptoms is defined as the symptom distress score. The range of the sum is 0-100, with a lower score indicating a better outcome. The ESAS-r is a validated tool and publicly available for use.
- Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) [ Time Frame: At baseline, days 1-3, and then within 72 hours of last use of the weighted blanket ]Aggression/Agitation as a measure of the global clinical outcome using a numeric scale ranging from 1-7, with a lower score indicating a better outcome.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 60 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
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:
- Inability to remove blanket;
- Skin burns or open wounds;
- Admitted on 72 hour hold.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03643991
United States, Minnesota | |
Mayo Clinic in Rochester | |
Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905 |
Principal Investigator: | Maria Lapid, MD | Mayo Clinic |
Responsible Party: | Maria I. Lapid, M.D., Principle Investigator, Mayo Clinic |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03643991 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
17-009951 |
First Posted: | August 23, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 24, 2023 |
Last Verified: | February 2023 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Agitation Dementia Inpatient |
Dementia Psychomotor Agitation Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders |
Mental Disorders Dyskinesias Neurologic Manifestations Psychomotor Disorders Neurobehavioral Manifestations |