Coexistence of restless legs syndrome and multiple sclerosis aggravates anxiety and depression.

Serhan Sevim,Nur Yüceyar,Cavit Boz,Mehmet Balal,Tuncay Gündüz,Gülcan Baran Gazaloğlu,Başak Karakurum Göksel,Rana Karabudak,Murat Kürtüncü,Bahar Taşdelen,Uğur Uygunoğlu,Ayşe Münife Neyal ,Aksel Síva ,Egemen İdıman ,Cemal Özcan ,Deniz Tunçel ,Meltem Demirkıran ,Meltem Baklan ,Murat Terzı ,Aslı Tuncer,Sedat Şen

doi:10.1590/0004-282x-anp-2020-0400

Abstract

Among the comorbidities that accompany multiple sclerosis (MS), restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the most common. Anxiety and depression are common psychological comorbidities that impact the quality of life of patients with MS (PwMS), as well as patients with RLS. To investigate the psychiatric burden of MS and RLS coexistence, we conducted a nationwide, multicenter and cross-sectional survey. Participants were assessed by using demographic and clinical parameters along with the Hamilton Anxiety and Hamilton Depression Scales (HAM-A and HAM-D). Out of the 1,068 participants, 173 (16.2%) were found to have RLS [RLS(+)] and 895 (83.8%) did not [RLS(-)]. The mean scores for HAM-A and HAM-D were significantly higher among RLS(+) subjects than among RLS(-) subjects (p<0.001 for all variables). According to our data, the presence of RLS in PwMS may increase the occurrence of both anxiety and depression symptoms. Awareness and treatment of RLS in PwMS could possibly reduce the symptoms of psychiatric comorbidities originating from RLS.

Highlights

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported to be associated with many autoimmune, physical and psychiatric conditions
Anxiety and depression are common psychological comorbidities that impact the quality of life and even increase suicidal tendencies among patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), as well as among patients with RLS5-10
We aimed to investigate the interaction between anxiety/ depression and restless legs syndrome (RLS) among patients with MS (PwMS) in a nationwide, multicenter and cross-sectional survey

Summary

Introduction

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported to be associated with many autoimmune, physical and psychiatric conditions. Anxiety and depression are common psychological comorbidities that impact the quality of life and even increase suicidal tendencies among patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), as well as among patients with RLS5-10. We aimed to investigate the interaction between anxiety/ depression and RLS among PwMS in a nationwide, multicenter and cross-sectional survey. Exploring the relations of some of these variables with anxiety and depression among PwMS who had coexisting RLS could possibly contribute towards understanding the causes of the high prevalence rates of this psychiatric burden and the pathophysiology of both diseases. Anxiety and depression are common psychological comorbidities that impact the quality of life of patients with MS (PwMS), as well as patients with RLS. Objective: To investigate the psychiatric burden of MS and RLS coexistence, we conducted a nationwide, multicenter and cross-sectional survey.

Objectives

Methods

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Conclusion