title: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive technique used to alter cortex excitability that has been proposed as an efficient method for treating brain hyperexcitability or hypoexcitability disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether high-frequency rTMS could have any beneficial effects in restless legs syndrome (RLS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with RLS were given high-frequency rTMS (15 Hz, 100% motor threshold) to the leg representation motor cortex area of the frontal lobe for 14 sessions over 18 days. Patients were diagnosed according to the international criteria proposed by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group in 2003. The International RLS Rating Scale (IRLS-RS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale were used to evaluate the severity of RLS, sleep quality, anxiety and depression, respectively. The scale scores were evaluated at four-time points (baseline, end of the 14 th session, and at 1- and 2-month posttreatment). One-way analysis of variance was used to compare scale scores at different time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant improvement in the IRLS-RS (from 23.86 ± 5.88 to 11.21 ± 7.23, P < 0.05), PSQI (from 15.00 ± 4.88 to 9.29 ± 3.91, P < 0.05), and HAMA (from 17.93 ± 7.11 to 10.36 ± 7.13, P < 0.05) scale scores at the end of 14 th session, with ongoing effects lasting for at least 2 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-frequency rTMS can markedly alleviate the motor system symptoms, sleep disturbances, and anxiety in RLS patients. These results suggest that rTMS might be an option for treating RLS.
authors.forename: Yi-Cong
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Shu-Qin
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhao-Yang
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053; Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Beijing 100069, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*