The US Food and Drug Administration has approved an Apple Watch app to help with the treatment of PTSD, with NightWare being an app available only under a prescription.
The approval of the app enables NightWare to be marketed as an aid for the "temporary reduction of sleep disturbance related to nightmares in adults," the FDA declared on Friday, including those who suffer from nightmare disorder or have disturbed sleep from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The app uses the sensors on the Apple Watch to monitor body movements and heart rate during sleep, which are analyzed and used to create a sleep profile for the patient. If it is detected that the patient is experiencing a nightmare, by comparing movements and pulse against the sleep profile, the Apple Watch vibrates to disrupt the user's sleep and to bring them out of the nightmare.
Testing of the app determined it was successful in improving the quality of sleep for sufferers, with it outperforming a control group as part of the "sham-controlled trial."
While NightWare is an app, it isn't one that will be readily available to use by anyone. It is available by prescription only, is intended to be used alongside prescribed PTSD medications and other therapies, and under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/11 ... nightmares
Product webpage: https://night-ware.com/