CME Credit(s): 1.5
Release Date: 9/1/2009
Expiration Date: 9/31/2010
This article is available here
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Who will benefit from reading this article?
Psychiatrists, geriatric psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and other health care professionals. To determine whether this article meets the continuing education requirements of your specialty, please contact your state licensing and certification boards.
Learning Objectives
After reading this article, you should be familiar with:
- Pathogenesis of restless legs syndrome (RLS)
- Comorbidity of RLS and psychiatric disorders
- Treatment options for RLS in patients with psychiatric disorders
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Needs Assessment
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurosensory disorder first described by Sir Thomas Willis in 1672. As early as the 19th century, Theodor Wittmaack1 observed the comorbidity of RLS with depression and anxiety. He termed this condition "anxietas tibiarum," and believed it to be a form of hysteria.
Once thought to be rare, data now suggest that RLS is relatively common but underrecognized and undertreated.2 Several clinical and population-based studies have reported a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities-particularly depression and anxiety-in patients with RLS.3 Thus, for psychiatrists, understanding the clinical features and treatment of RLS has become critical in their daily practice. However, the symptomatic overlap between RLS and mood disorders and the potential impact of psychiatric medications on RLS symptoms make RLS a diagnostic and treatment challenge.
This article provides an overview of the clinical features of and treatment strategies for RLS. It also offers a survey of the current literature on issues in the diagnosis and treatment of RLS among psychiatric patients.
About the Authors
by Hochang Benjamin Lee, MD is associate director of research development in psychiatry in the division of geriatric psychiatry and neuropsychiatry, department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore.
Financial Disclosures
Dr. Lee reports that he has received research support from GlaxoSmithKline.
Accreditation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of CME LLC and Psychiatric Times. CME LLC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME LLC designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
To earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
In order to receive credit, read the article and complete the activity posttest and evaluation online. A score of 80% or more must be achieved in order to receive credit. A fee of $15.00 will be charged.
The posttest will be scored instantly and results will be shown onscreen. Please make a copy of your test results for your continuing education records. After submitting the activity evaluation, you may then print a Statement of Credit for your records.
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