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Journals / Ege Tıp Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1

Assessment of Anxiety, Depression, and Eating Disorder Symptoms Among Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome

Huzursuz Bacak Sendromu Tanılı Hastalarda Anksiyete, Depresyon Ve Yeme Bozukluklarının İncelenmesi

Nimet Ucaroglu Can(sakarya eğitim ve araştırma hastanesi)0000-0003-1307-3578
Pages
1–7
Publication Date
2026-04-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Integrating psychiatric evaluation into the routine management of RLS may improve clinical outcomes and overall quality of life.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:OBJECTIVE: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is frequently accompanied by psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and disordered eating behaviors.
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Key Findings & Data:MATERIALS and METHODS: This retrospective study included 72 patients diagnosed with RLS and 44 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
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Conclusion & Impact:Integrating psychiatric evaluation into the routine management of RLS may improve clinical outcomes and overall quality of life.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Huzursuz bacak sendromu · depresyon · anksiyete

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is frequently accompanied by psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and disordered eating behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the association between RLS severity, depression, anxiety, and the risk of eating disorders. MATERIALS and METHODS: This retrospective study included 72 patients diagnosed with RLS and 44 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Depression, anxiety, and eating behaviors were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), respectively. Demographic data and scale scores were compared between groups. Depression and anxiety severity categories were also analyzed. RESULTS: BDI and BAI scores were significantly higher in the RLS group compared with the control group (p=0.008 and p=0.001, respectively). Mild, moderate, and severe depressive symptoms were more common among RLS patients. Anxiety severity was also markedly higher in the patient group, with severe anxiety observed in 37.5% of patients compared with 9.1% of controls. Although EAT-40 scores and the frequency of eating disorder risk were higher in the RLS group, the differences were not statistically significant (p=0.267). BMI was slightly higher in the patient group but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: RLS is associated with significantly increased levels of depression and anxiety, highlighting a substantial neuropsychiatric burden in affected individuals. Although disordered eating tendencies appeared more common in RLS patients, further studies with larger samples are needed to clarify this relationship. Integrating psychiatric evaluation into the routine management of RLS may improve clinical outcomes and overall quality of life.

Özet

AMAÇ: Huzursuz bacak sendromu (HBS), depresyon, anksiyete ve yeme bozukluğu gibi psikiyatrik belirtilerle sıklıkla ilişkilendirilmektedir. Bu çalışmada HBS şiddeti ile depresyon, anksiyete ve yeme bozukluğu riski arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. GEREÇ ve YÖNTEM: Retrospektif olarak planlanan çalışmaya HBS tanısı alan 72 hasta ve yaş-cinsiyet açısından eşleştirilmiş 44 sağlıklı kontrol dahil edildi. Depresyon, anksiyete ve yeme davranışları sırasıyla Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDE), Beck Anksiyete Envanteri (BAE) ve Yeme Tutum Testi (YTT-40) ile değerlendirildi. Gruplar arasında demografik veriler ve ölçek puanları karşılaştırıldı. Depresyon ve anksiyete şiddeti kategorileri ayrıca analiz edildi. BULGULAR: HBS grubunda BDE ve BAE puanları kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti (sırasıyla p=0,008 ve p=0,001). Hafif, orta ve ağır depresyon belirtileri HBS hastalarında daha sık görüldü. Anksiyete şiddeti de hastalarda belirgin şekilde yüksekti; ağır anksiyete HBS grubunda %37,5 iken, kontrolde %9,1 oranında izlendi. YTT-40 puanları ve yeme bozukluğu riski HBS grubunda daha yüksek olmakla birlikte istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi (p=0,267). VKİ hasta grubunda daha yüksek olsa da anlamlı farklılık göstermedi. SONUÇ: HBS hastalarında depresyon ve anksiyete düzeyleri belirgin derecede yüksektir ve bu durum hastalığın önemli bir nöropsikiyatrik bileşen taşıdığını göstermektedir. Yeme bozukluğu eğilimleri HBS hastalarında daha sık gözlense de bu ilişkinin netleşmesi için daha geniş örneklemli çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır. HBS’nin klinik yönetiminde psikiyatrik değerlendirmenin entegrasyonu, yaşam kalitesinin artırılmasına katkı sağlayabilir.

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Cite This Article

Can, N. U. (2026). Assessment of Anxiety, Depression, and Eating Disorder Symptoms Among Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome. Ege Tıp Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.33713/egetbd.1829973

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