Restless Leg Syndrome in Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients in Mashhad

Abstract

Background and Objective Sleep disorders, especially restless leg syndrome (RLS), have in recent years been recognized as common problems that increase the risk of mental disorders, anxiety, and depression, and lead to decreased quality of life and social isolation. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the frequency of RSL in psychiatric patients admitted to Ibn Sina Hospital, Mashhad, Iran during 2020–2021. Methods Eligible individuals were selected using available sampling, and after determining the type of psychiatric disorder, the demographic and medical information of patients were recorded. The RLS assessment questionnaire was used to evaluate the purpose of the study. Results Of the 150 hospitalized patients with psychiatric disorders, 67 (44.7%) were male, and the mean age of the subjects was 34.63 ± 10.80 years. RLS was not observed in 100 patients (66.7%); however, mild RLS was shown in 33 patients (22%), while severe type was shown in 17 patients (11.3%). The prevalence of major depressive disorder and lithium consumption was significantly higher in people with RLS than in those without the syndrome (p = 0.047 and p = 0.012, respectively). Conclusions These results indicate that there is a relationship between the prevalence of RLS and some psychological disorders and medications that are commonly used in this field. Managing the symptoms of this syndrome by better understanding its predisposing factors can lead to better management of patients.

Keywords

• restless legs syndrome
• psychiatric disorders
• ibn sina hospital
• mashhad