Anxiety and insomnia can affect the quality of life for many patients, particularly those in hospital for extended periods of time. Although medications may be offered, not all patients want pharmacological interventions. This may be due to spiritual, physiological, psychological, or personal reasons.

What can be offered to patients as a non-pharmacological alternative to help alleviate anxiety and/or insomnia at night?

An excellent non-pharmacological alternative to sedating medication for anxiety and insomnia is the use of projectors with simulated, moving green stars on a blue light background.

The use of starlight projectors has been shown to have an evidence-based effect on patients through the measurement of physiological parameters:

Below is a presentation investigating this unique intervention: