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Personality traits in patients with restless legs syndrome

Persönlichkeitsmerkmale bei Patienten mit Restless-Legs-Syndrom

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Abstract

Objective

In restless legs syndrome (RLS), the prevalence of depressive symptoms and anxiety has been found to be increased. However, most studies did not consider specific personality characteristics of patients although they might have a crucial influence on the mental state of the patient. The aim of this study was to compare RLS patients with healthy controls in view of personality traits, depression, and anxiety.

Methods

In all, 30 consecutive patients with idiopathic RLS (de novo) were compared to 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The severity of symptoms was assessed using the RLS severity scale. Sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders were exclusion criteria for the control group. Participants were asked to fill in the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) to assess personality traits, as well as the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS).

Results

RLS patients scored significantly higher on the SDS (39.0 ± 7.4 vs. 28.8 ± 5.7, p < 0.001) as well as the SAS (37.4 ± 4.9 vs. 26.0 ± 4.3, p < 0.001) compared to the control group. In the NEO-FFI, patients exhibited significantly higher scores on the subscale “neuroticism” (52.3 ± 8.4 vs. 41.6 ± 9.0, p < 0.001). In addition, they scored significantly lower on the subscales “openness to experience” (45.3 ± 6.9 vs. 51.9 ± 10.5, p = 0.007) and showed a trend in “agreeableness” (48.6 ± 11.5 vs. 55.5 ± 9.6, p = 0.017; ns after Bonferroni correction) compared to healthy controls.

Discussion

RLS patients seem to be more worried, nervous, and discontent. They are more easily irritable and more vulnerable to stress. They also tend to withdraw from social contacts and rather occupy themselves with their symptoms.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel

Die Prävalenz von depressiven und Angstsymptomen ist beim Restless-Legs-Syndrom (RLS) erhöht. Die spezifische Persönlichkeit wurde jedoch in den meisten Studien nicht berücksichtigt, obwohl sie einen erheblichen Einfluss auf die psychische Verfassung haben kann. Ziel dieser Studie war es daher, Persönlichkeitsmerkmale, Depression und Angst von RLS-Patienten im Vergleich zu Gesunden zu untersuchen.

Patienten und Methoden

Dreißig konsekutive Patienten mit idiopathischem RLS (de novo) wurden mit 30 alters- und geschlechtsgleichen gesunden Kontrollen verglichen. Der Schweregrad des RLS wurde mit der RLS-Schweregradskala gemessen. Schlafstörungen, Depression und Angststörungen waren Ausschlussmerkmale bei den Kontrollen. Alle Teilnehmer füllten das NEO-5-Faktoren-Inventar (NEO-FFI) aus, um die Persönlichkeitsmerkmale darzustellen, außerdem die Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) und die Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS).

Ergebnisse

RLS-Patienten hatten signifikant höhere Werte in der SDS (39,0 ± 7,4 vs. 28,8 ± 5,7; p < 0,001) und in der SAS (37,4 ± 4,9 vs. 26,0 ± 4,3; p < 0,001). Im NEO-FFI zeigten die Patienten signifikant höhere Werte in der Subskala „Neurotizismus“ (52,3 ± 8,4 vs. 41,6 ± 9,0; p < 0,001). Außerdem zeigten sie signifikant niedrigere Werte in den Subskalen „Offenheit für Erfahrung“ (45,3 ± 6,9 vs. 51,9 ± 10,5; p = 0,007) und zeigten einen Trend für „Verträglichkeit“ (48,6 ± 11,5 vs. 55,5 ± 9,6; p =  0,017; nichtsignifikant nach Bonferroni-Korrektur) im Vergleich zu den gesunden Kontrollen.

Diskussion

RLS-Patienten scheinen ängstlicher, nervöser und unzufriedener zu sein. Sie sind leichter irritierbar und anfälliger für Stress. Sie tendieren außerdem dazu, vor sozialen Kontakten zurückzuschrecken und beschäftigen sich vermehrt mit ihren Symptomen.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Karin Mayer for contacting patients and help in acquisition of data.

Compliance with ethical guidelines

Conflict of interest. J. Steinig, T. Reess, G. Klösch, C. Sauter, J. Zeitlhofer, and S. Happe state that there are no conflicts of interest.

All studies on humans described in the present manuscript were carried out with the approval of the responsible ethics committee and in accordance with national law and the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 (in its current, revised form). Informed consent was obtained from all patients included in studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Klinikum Bremen-Ost/University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

    J. Steinig, T. Reess & S. Happe MD

  2. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    J. Steinig

  3. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    G. Klösch, C. Sauter & J. Zeitlhofer

  4. Competence Center of Sleep Medicine CC15, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany

    C. Sauter

  5. Department of Neurology, Klinik Maria Frieden Telgte, Am Krankenhaus 1, 48321, Telgte, Germany

    S. Happe MD

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  1. J. Steinig
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  2. T. Reess
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  3. G. Klösch
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  4. C. Sauter
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  5. J. Zeitlhofer
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  6. S. Happe MD
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Correspondence to S. Happe MD.

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Steinig, J., Reess, T., Klösch, G. et al. Personality traits in patients with restless legs syndrome. Somnologie 17, 281–283 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11818-013-0623-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11818-013-0623-z

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