Psychological Distress in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome
Author Information
Author(s): Hanna Scholz, Heike Benes, Svenja Happe, Juergen Bengel, Ralf Kohnen, Magdolna Hornyak
Primary Institution: University Medical Centre Freiburg
Hypothesis
What are the psychological characteristics of patients suffering from restless legs syndrome?
Conclusion
Patients with restless legs syndrome experience significant psychological distress across multiple domains.
Supporting Evidence
- Untreated patients showed elevated scores in psychological distress compared to a German representative sample.
- Patients dissatisfied with treatment had higher psychological distress scores.
- More severe restless legs syndrome symptoms correlated with greater psychological impairment.
Takeaway
People with restless legs syndrome often feel very sad or anxious, and this can make their treatment less effective.
Methodology
The study used a cross-sectional observational design and evaluated psychological features using standardized questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Selection bias may exist due to exclusion of patients with incomplete questionnaires.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to determine causality between treatment outcomes and psychological factors.
Participant Demographics
Patients were predominantly middle-aged, with a mean age of 59.6 years, and 65.7% were female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.002
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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