title: Cognitive and behavioral anomalies among insomnia patients with mixed restless legs and periodic limb movement disorder.
abstract: This study examined whether patients who have periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), with or without comorbid restless legs syndrome (RLS), display the sleep-disruptive cognitive and behavioral anomalies found among primary insomnia sufferers. Archival data from a Sleep History Questionnaire, home-based polysomnography, and a sleep log were obtained for matched RLS/PLMD, primary insomnia, and noncomplaining volunteer samples. Statistical comparisons showed that the RLS/PLMD and primary insomnia samples differed significantly from the normal sleepers in regard to their propensities for certain sleep disruptive habits, perceived difficulties controlling pre-sleep cognitive activity, and their subjective sleep appraisals. These findings suggest RLS/PLMD patients display many of the cognitive and behavioral anomalies thought to perpetuate primary insomnia. Hence, behavioral interventions may be warranted for RLS/PLMD patients.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Service 116B, VA Medical Center, 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705-3875, USA. jack.edinger@duke.edu
authors.forename: Jack D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Edinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires