Is Antipsychotic Intake a Risk Factor for the Restless Legs Syndrome?.
- Author:
Hyunwoo NAM
1
;
Jinwhan CHO
;
Yoon Ho HONG
;
Hyung Min KWON
;
Jeong In CHA
;
Heeyoun JUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Antipsychotic;
Schizophrenia;
Restless-legs syndrome;
Dopaminergic system
- MeSH:
Antipsychotic Agents;
Brain;
Humans;
Incidence;
Parkinson Disease;
Prospective Studies;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Restless Legs Syndrome;
Risk Factors;
Schizophrenia
- From:Journal of the Korean Neurological Association
2009;27(1):49-53
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Restless-legs syndrome (RLS) is known to be caused by dopaminergic hypofunction in the brain. We investigated whether antipsychotics that act as antidopaminergics increase the risk of RLS. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 72 schizophrenic patients who had been medicated with antipsychotic drugs in a psychiatry clinic. We evaluated RLS diagnostic criteria and basic sleep habits using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index by face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. We also applied the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale to evaluate extrapyramidal symptoms. RESULTS: Three of the 72 patients (4.2%) met RLS criteria, which is similar to the previously reported RLS incidence among the general population in Korea. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence that antipsychotics increase the risk of RLS. We believe that the mild antidopaminergic effect of antipsychotics does not overwhelm their prominent antipsychotic effect.
