The impact of neuropsychiatric burden on Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) disease severity

In patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), neuropsychiatric comorbidities like anxiety, depression, and somatization are common, yet the precise connection between somatization and RLS severity remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the influence of neuropsychiatric comorbidities on RLS severity, focusing particularly on the role of somatization.

This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at a tertiary hospital. All 113 RLS patients who followed in neurology clinic for at least a year were invited, and 87 participated. Data collection included sociodemographic details, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group rating scale (IRLS), the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Scale, and Somatization Scale. Elastic-net regularized path analysis was used as the statistical method.

Among the 87 participants (70.1 % female, mean age 52.5 ± 13.2 years), the mean duration of RLS diagnosis was 4.95 ± 4.53 years. Univariate statistics revealed positive correlations among RLS severity, anxiety, depression, and somatization. Path analysis showed that somatization was associated with RLS severity (p = 0.014). Anxiety had no direct effect on RLS severity but influenced it indirectly through its positive association with somatization (p < 0.001). Depression was found to have no effect on RLS severity, either directly or through somatization.

The relationship between anxiety and RLS severity is mediated by somatization. Furthermore, the association between RLS severity and somatization appears to be more significant than previously recognized, highlighting the importance of considering somatization in addressing the neuropsychiatric burden of RLS patients.