Objective: We examined the prevalence of mood disorders (depression, apathy) and its’ characteristics. Moreover, to investigate pathophysiology of the mood disorders in the patient in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Background: Symptoms of RLS and its complications including mood disorders are considered to reduce QOL. Furthermore it is reported that depressive state is merged by 26.2% of RLS.

Methods: We performed Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Beck Depression inventory II (BDI II), Apathy Score (AS) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in 55 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of the international RLS study group. We used International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLS) for a severity evaluation of RLS. We analyzed prevalence of the depression and apathy. In addition, the relationship between IRLS and age, duration of the illness, sex differences in depression and apathy group with RLS. Furthermore, we analyzed TCI in each group to investigate temperament and character which might be a pathophysiological base for mood disorders.

Results: The prevalence of depression and apathy were 14.8% and 43.6% high- prevalence in comparison with the general population. There is significant correlation between IRLS and AS, but not MINI or BDI II. However, we were not able to identify any specific factor for depression and apathy in RLS. Furthermore, depression and apathy group shows very similar results of TCI compared with endogenous depression.

Conclusions: We conclude that RLS has high prevalence of depression and apathy. Although apathy may be based on dysfunction of dopaminergic system, depression may be based on similar pathophysiological basement for endogenous depression in RLS.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/depression-and-apathy-in-restless-legs-syndrome/