Adults with restless legs syndrome may be at increased risk for psychiatric conditions including anxiety and depression, according to a presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians.

“There is a strong association between physical and mental health problems and restless legs syndrome,” said study author Barbara A. Phillips, MD, FCCP, President of the National Sleep Foundation and Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY. “It is possible that restless leg syndrome causes mood disturbance. It is also possible the medications used to treat mood disturbance cause restless leg syndrome. In addition, behaviors that are risk factors for restless leg syndrome, such as smoking, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle, are more prevalent in those with psychiatric illnesses.”

In its annual sleep poll, the National Sleep Foundation randomly surveyed 1,506 adults throughout the United States on many aspects of sleep, sleep disorders, and daily living. Individuals were believed to be at risk for the syndrome if they reported unpleasant feelings in the leg for at least a few nights a week and that were worse at night.

Of the individuals polled, 9.7 percent, including 8 percent men and 11 percent women, reported having symptoms of restless leg syndrome. Adults who were overweight, unemployed, or smoked daily were more likely to be at risk for restless leg syndrome, as were those with hypertension, arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, depression, anxiety, and diabetes.

Adults at risk for the syndrome also appeared to be more at risk for sleep apnea and insomnia and were more likely to report taking longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep, driving drowsy, and having daytime fatigue. Regarding work and social issues, adults at risk for restless leg syndrome were more likely to report making errors at work, being late for work, and missing work and social events due to sleepiness.

“Restless leg syndrome (RLS) can interfere with the ability to go to sleep, to stay asleep, to sit quietly in a movie or on an airplane, to undergo dialysis, or any activity that requires immobility,” added Phillips. “Diagnosing and treating RLS is important because it improves quality of life.”

To cope with RLS, researchers suggest losing weight, quitting smoking, avoiding taking medications that are not necessary, reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol, exercising in moderation, and seeing a primary care provider to assess the possibility of underlying, treatable causes of RLS.