Restless legs, anxiety and caffeinism. 1978

E G Lutz

This clinical study of 62 patients with restless legs syndrome and associated anxious-depressed and other clinical states seems to indicate that caffeine is the major etiological factor in the causation of the restless legs syndrome. Anxiety, while modifying the subjective experience of the dysphoric sensation of restless legs, is not a causative factor. Caffeine is responsible for the increased nervous system arousal as well as for the direct peripheral contractile effect on the striated muscle. This arousal is often reflected psychologically in anxiety and sometimes depressive manifestations, insomnia, heightened proprioceptive awareness and physiologically in the toxic sensory experience of restless legs associated with increased neuromuscular reactivity which may include myoclonus and myokomia.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007319 Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Disorders characterized by impairment of the ability to initiate or maintain sleep. This may occur as a primary disorder or in association with another medical or psychiatric condition. Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep,Insomnia,Sleeplessness,Chronic Insomnia,DIMS (Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep),Early Awakening,Insomnia Disorder,Nonorganic Insomnia,Primary Insomnia,Psychophysiological Insomnia,Rebound Insomnia,Secondary Insomnia,Sleep Initiation Dysfunction,Transient Insomnia,Awakening, Early,Dysfunction, Sleep Initiation,Dysfunctions, Sleep Initiation,Insomnia Disorders,Insomnia, Chronic,Insomnia, Nonorganic,Insomnia, Primary,Insomnia, Psychophysiological,Insomnia, Rebound,Insomnia, Secondary,Insomnia, Transient,Insomnias,Sleep Initiation Dysfunctions
D008297 Male Males
D009119 Muscle Contraction A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments. Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009207 Myoclonus Involuntary shock-like contractions, irregular in rhythm and amplitude, followed by relaxation, of a muscle or a group of muscles. This condition may be a feature of some CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; (e.g., EPILEPSY, MYOCLONIC). Nocturnal myoclonus is the principal feature of the NOCTURNAL MYOCLONUS SYNDROME. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp102-3). Myoclonus, Action,Myoclonus, Nocturnal,Myoclonus, Palatal,Polymyoclonus,Myoclonic Jerk,Myoclonic Jerking,Myoclonus Simplex,Myoclonus, Eyelid,Myoclonus, Intention,Myoclonus, Lower Extremity,Myoclonus, Oculopalatal,Myoclonus, Segmental,Myoclonus, Sleep,Myoclonus, Upper Extremity,Action Myoclonus,Extremity Myoclonus, Lower,Extremity Myoclonus, Upper,Eyelid Myoclonus,Intention Myoclonus,Jerk, Myoclonic,Jerking, Myoclonic,Jerks, Myoclonic,Lower Extremity Myoclonus,Myoclonic Jerks,Nocturnal Myoclonus,Oculopalatal Myoclonus,Palatal Myoclonus,Segmental Myoclonus,Simplex, Myoclonus,Sleep Myoclonus,Upper Extremity Myoclonus
D011434 Proprioception Sensory functions that transduce stimuli received by proprioceptive receptors in joints, tendons, muscles, and the INNER EAR into neural impulses to be transmitted to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Proprioception provides sense of stationary positions and movements of one's body parts, and is important in maintaining KINESTHESIA and POSTURAL BALANCE. Labyrinthine Sense,Position Sense,Posture Sense,Sense of Equilibrium,Vestibular Sense,Sense of Position,Equilibrium Sense,Sense, Labyrinthine,Sense, Position,Sense, Posture,Sense, Vestibular
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
D002110 Caffeine A methylxanthine naturally occurring in some beverages and also used as a pharmacological agent. Caffeine's most notable pharmacological effect is as a central nervous system stimulant, increasing alertness and producing agitation. It also relaxes SMOOTH MUSCLE, stimulates CARDIAC MUSCLE, stimulates DIURESIS, and appears to be useful in the treatment of some types of headache. Several cellular actions of caffeine have been observed, but it is not entirely clear how each contributes to its pharmacological profile. Among the most important are inhibition of cyclic nucleotide PHOSPHODIESTERASES, antagonism of ADENOSINE RECEPTORS, and modulation of intracellular calcium handling. 1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine,Caffedrine,Coffeinum N,Coffeinum Purrum,Dexitac,Durvitan,No Doz,Percoffedrinol N,Percutaféine,Quick-Pep,Vivarin,Quick Pep,QuickPep
D003069 Coffee A beverage made from ground COFFEA beans (SEEDS) infused in hot water. It generally contains CAFFEINE and THEOPHYLLINE unless it is decaffeinated.
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
D005260 Female Females

Related Publications

E G Lutz
September 2006, Sleep medicine,
E G Lutz
March 1956, Gazette medicale de France,
E G Lutz
January 2004, Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke,
E G Lutz
November 1954, Canadian Medical Association journal,
E G Lutz
January 1971, British medical journal,
E G Lutz
July 1954, The British journal of physical medicine : including its application to industry,
E G Lutz
April 1951, Svenska lakartidningen,
E G Lutz
June 1963, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,
E G Lutz
October 1952, Ugeskrift for laeger,
E G Lutz
August 1952, Svenska lakartidningen,
Copied contents to your clipboard!