title: Association Between Restless Legs Syndrome and Adult ADHD in a German Community-Based Sample.
abstract: Previous research in clinical samples indicated a significant association between ADHD and restless legs syndrome (RLS). The present study examined the association between adult ADHD and RLS in the German population.
  
  
  
  Self-rating instruments to assess RLS, childhood ADHD, and adult ADHD were administered to a community-based sample ( N = 1,632). In addition, current depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances, weight, and height were assessed by self-report.
  
  
  
  Adult ADHD was associated with statistically significant increases in the odds of meeting diagnostic criteria for RLS even when adjusting for potential confounding variables such as weight (odds ratio [OR] = 3.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.29, 7.63], p< .001). However, the association did not hold true after adjusting for the presence of sleep disturbances (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = [0.82, 4.96], p = .13).
  
  
  
  The findings suggest a strong link between RLS and adult ADHD symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of RLS among adult ADHD patients, especially as there might be a negative interactive effect.
authors.affiliation: 1 Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: 1 Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Zwaan
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Inka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tuin
authors.affiliation: 3 University of Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philipsen
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Mainz, Germany.|4 University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
authors.affiliation: 1 Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: adult ADHD; general population; restless legs syndrome; sleep disturbances