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

ABSTRACT Background: 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. Objective: To investigate the psychiatric burden of MS and RLS coexistence, we conducted a nationwide, multicenter and cross-sectional survey. Methods: Participants were assessed by using demographic and clinical parameters along with the Hamilton Anxiety and Hamilton Depression Scales (HAM-A and HAM-D). Results: 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). Conclusions: 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.

摘要 背景：在多发性硬化症（multiple sclerosis, MS）的伴随共病中，不宁腿综合征（restless legs syndrome, RLS）是最为常见的类型之一。焦虑与抑郁为常见心理共病，可对多发性硬化症患者（patients with MS, PwMS）及不宁腿综合征患者的生活质量产生不良影响。目的：为探究多发性硬化症与不宁腿综合征共病时的精神负担，本研究开展了一项全国性多中心横断面调查。方法：本研究通过人口学与临床参数，联合汉密尔顿焦虑量表（Hamilton Anxiety Scale, HAM-A）与汉密尔顿抑郁量表（Hamilton Depression Scale, HAM-D）对受试者进行评估。结果：共纳入1068名受试者，其中173人（16.2%）为不宁腿综合征阳性（RLS(+)），895人（83.8%）为不宁腿综合征阴性（RLS(-)）。不宁腿综合征阳性受试者的汉密尔顿焦虑量表与汉密尔顿抑郁量表平均得分均显著高于不宁腿综合征阴性受试者（所有变量p<0.001）。结论：本研究数据显示，多发性硬化症患者合并不宁腿综合征可能会增加焦虑与抑郁症状的发生风险。对多发性硬化症患者的不宁腿综合征进行识别与治疗，或可减轻由不宁腿综合征引发的心理共病症状。