RLS, a neurologic sensorimotor disease often profoundly disturbing sleep and quality of life, has variable expression influenced by genetic, environmental, and medical factors. The symptoms vary considerably in frequency from less than once a month or year to daily and severity from mildly annoying to disabling. Symptoms may also remit for various periods of time. RLS is diagnosed by ascertaining symptom patterns that meet the following 5 essential criteria, adding clinical specifiers where appropriate. |
Essential diagnostic criteria (all must be met): |
1. An urge to move the legs usually but not always accompanied by, or felt to be caused by, uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs*¶. |
2. The urge to move the legs and any accompanying unpleasant sensations begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity, such as lying down or sitting. |
3. The urge to move the legs and any accompanying unpleasant sensations are partially or totally relieved by movement, such as walking or stretching, at least as long as the activity continuesΔ. |
4. The urge to move the legs and any accompanying unpleasant sensations during rest or inactivity only occur or are worse in the evening or night than during the day◊. |
5. The occurrence of the above features is not solely accounted for as symptoms primary to another medical or a behavioral condition (eg, myalgia, venous stasis, leg edema, arthritis, leg cramps, positional discomfort, habitual foot tapping)§. |
Specifiers for clinical course of RLS:¥ |
A. Chronic-persistent RLS – Symptoms when not treated would occur on average at least twice weekly for the past year. |
B. Intermittent RLS – Symptoms when not treated would occur on average <2/week for the past year, with at least 5 lifetime events. |
Specifier for clinical significance of RLS: |
The symptoms of RLS cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, educational, or other important areas of functioning by their impact on sleep, energy/vitality, daily activities, behavior, cognition, or mood. |
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