title: Patients suffering from restless legs syndrome have low internal locus of control and poor psychological functioning compared to healthy controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disturbing sensorimotor disorder negatively influencing both sleep and psychological functioning. The aim of the present study was to assess RLS patients with respect to locus of control, sleep-related personality traits, quality of life, and sleep as compared to healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients (18 females and 20 males; mean age: 56.06 years) diagnosed with RLS and an age- and gender-matched control group (n = 42) were recruited. Participants completed a series of questionnaires related to locus of control, personality traits, quality of life, and sleep.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to healthy controls, RLS patients had a lower internal locus of control, unfavourable sleep-related personality traits such as low self-confidence and higher mental arousal, poorer quality of life, and more depressive symptoms. Sleep was also affected. Multiple regression analyses showed that a low internal and a high external locus of control were predicted by RLS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pattern of results suggests that RLS is associated with a low locus of control, negative personality traits, and poor quality of life as compared to healthy controls.
authors.affiliation: Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. yutaka@ncnp.go.jp
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatzinger
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holsboer-Trachsler
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*