J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.
2007 Jul;46(4):391-397.
Restless Legs Syndrome in Psychiatric Outpatients with Psychotropic Agents
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Psychiatry, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. vagusdoc@hanmail.net
- 2Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
- 3Sleep Disorders Clinic, Busan Sleep Center, Busan, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and incidence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in outpatients with psychiatric illness.
METHODS
146 adult patients (male 52, female 94) were selected from those who visited a psychiatric outpatient clinic. RLS was evaluated through an interview method using diagnostic criteria and a severity rating scale for RLS developed by the International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG). The authors also applied Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale and neurological examination.
RESULTS
Thirty-four (23.3%) among 146 subjects were diagnosed as having RLS. Fifteen (44.1%) among those 34 RLS patients reported to have developed their RLS after starting their psychotropic agents and only 4 patients (11.7%) had currently been receiving treatment for their RLS. The RLS group showed higher BDI and BAI scores (p<0.01) and lower sleep quality (p<0.01) compared to those of non-RLS. The RLS group also showed a significantly higher co-morbidity of parasomnias (chi-square =8.5, p<0.01) and peripheral neuropathy (chi-square =5.2, p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The results from this study suggest that a substantial proportion of outpatients with psychiatric illness are suffering RLS. Our data suggest that clinicians should pay attention to the possible presence of RLS among their patients who are taking psychotropic agents.
