Biomaterial Database

Restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements in sleep, and depression. 2005

Daniel Picchietti, and John W Winkelman

Sleep Disorders Center, Carle Clinic Association and University of Illinois School of Medicine, 602 W. University Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. dpicchie@uiuc.edu

OBJECTIVE To review the literature on restless legs syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movements in sleep, and depression. METHODS Literature review. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS: N/A. RESULTS We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature searching for publications that included data on depression or antidepressants and RLS or periodic limb movements in sleep. Sixty-two relevant literature references were found and reviewed. Four population-based studies and 9 clinical studies reported significantly higher rates of depression symptoms in individuals with RLS than in controls. Conversely, the prevalence of RLS in patients presenting with depression was reported as elevated in 2 studies. Conflicting data were found regarding the effect of antidepressants on the sensory symptoms of RLS. In contrast, several studies have found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant use is associated with increased periodic limb movements in sleep. CONCLUSIONS Depression symptoms are common in adults with RLS. However, the relationship appears complex, with overlap between RLS- and depression-related symptoms confounding the issue. Given what is known at this time, we propose a specific treatment approach to patients with RLS and depression symptoms.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D012148	Restless Legs Syndrome	A disorder characterized by aching or burning sensations in the lower and rarely the upper extremities that occur prior to sleep or may awaken the patient from sleep.	Restless Leg Syndrome,Restless Legs,Willis Ekbom Disease,Willis Ekbom Syndrome,Willis-Ekbom Disease,Willis-Ekbom Syndrome,Wittmaack Ekbom Syndrome,Wittmaack-Ekbom Syndrome,Disease, Willis Ekbom,Disease, Willis-Ekbom,Syndrome, Restless Leg,Syndrome, Willis Ekbom,Syndrome, Willis-Ekbom,Syndrome, Wittmaack Ekbom,Syndrome, Wittmaack-Ekbom
D003863	Depression	Depressive states usually of moderate intensity in contrast with MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER present in neurotic and psychotic disorders.	Depressive Symptoms,Emotional Depression,Depression, Emotional,Depressive Symptom,Symptom, Depressive
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012890	Sleep	A readily reversible suspension of sensorimotor interaction with the environment, usually associated with recumbency and immobility.	Sleep Habits,Sleeping Habit,Sleeping Habits,Habit, Sleep,Habit, Sleeping,Habits, Sleep,Habits, Sleeping,Sleep Habit
D015995	Prevalence	The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time.	Period Prevalence,Point Prevalence,Period Prevalences,Point Prevalences,Prevalence, Period,Prevalence, Point,Prevalences
D020189	Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome	Excessive periodic leg movements during sleep that cause micro-arousals and interfere with the maintenance of sleep. This condition induces a state of relative sleep deprivation which manifests as excessive daytime hypersomnolence. The movements are characterized by repetitive contractions of the tibialis anterior muscle, extension of the toe, and intermittent flexion of the hip, knee and ankle. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p387)	Periodic Limb Movement Disorder,Periodic Movement Disorder, Sleep,Sleep Disorder, Periodic Movements,Sleep Myoclonus Syndrome,Excessive Periodic Sleep-Related Leg Movements,Periodic Leg Movements, Excessive, Sleep-Related,Sleep-Related Periodic Leg Movements, Excessive,Excessive Periodic Sleep Related Leg Movements,Myoclonus Syndrome, Nocturnal,Myoclonus Syndrome, Sleep,Myoclonus Syndromes, Sleep,Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndromes,Sleep Myoclonus Syndromes,Sleep Related Periodic Leg Movements, Excessive,Syndrome, Nocturnal Myoclonus,Syndrome, Sleep Myoclonus,Syndromes, Sleep Myoclonus