Some studies argue that sleeping with a weighted blanket could be beneficial for sufferers of anxiety and insomnia.

While by no means the next ‘miracle cure’, experts claim that the deep pressure stimulation (DPTS) derived from use of a weighted blanket can help to alleviate symptoms and significantly improve sleep.

Concentration, irritability, productivity and risk of heart attacks are all linked to a lack of sleep, and DPTS is a recognised type of therapy almost anybody can benefit from, and a sure-fire way to control symptoms.

The theory is similar to that of a massage; pressure is exerted over the body by plastic poly pellets, sewn into small compartments throughout the blanket to keep the weight evenly distributed. The pressure of this weight is then thought to relax the nervous system, as the blanket constantly moulds into new shapes to fit the user’s body and movements, delivering distinct physical and psychological advantages.

A 2008 study published in Occupational Therapy in Mental Health found that, on average, the blankets significantly decreased anxiety symptoms in regular sufferers, due to an excess of mood-lifting serotonin produced in the brain of users.

Another 1992 study, conducted by Temple Grandin, further proved that weighted blankets offer similar relief benefits for sufferers of autism and ADHD.