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Published on: November 21, 2013
Patients suffering from restless legs syndrome have low internal locus of control and poor psychological functioning
Serge Brand1, Johannes Beck, Martin Hatzinger
1Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. yutaka@ncnp.go.jp
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.
Method:
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.
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