Willis-Ekbom disease/restless legs syndrome (WED/RLS) seems to be a frequent cause of intractable chronic insomnia (ICI) but is under-recognized in children/adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), as many patients do not have the ability to express the underlying "urge-to-move". In light of this, we aim to develop a protocol for behavioral observations supporting the diagnosis of WED/RLS. We investigated 26 pediatric patients (age 1-16 years, median 8) with NDCs, ICI and evidence of familial WED/RLS employing (1) "emplotted narratives" for description of the various "urge-to-move" presentations and (2) self-description and "behavioral observations" during a "suggested clinical immobilization test" (SCIT). Parental narratives reflected typical WED/RLS-related "urge-to-move" symptoms during day-, bed-, and nighttime in all patients. Fifteen out of 26 patients could describe the "urge-to-move" during the SCIT. Ten out of 26 patients, unable to describe their symptoms due to cognitive disabilities, showed patterns of "relieving-movements" upon observation. Sensory processing abnormalities were reported in all patients, with tactile sensitivities (26/26) (including shifted pain threshold) as the most common sensory domain. "Emplotted narratives" and structured "behavioral observations" support recognition of familial WED/RLS associated movement patterns and provide a useful tool for the diagnosis of WED/RLS in children with NDCs in a clinical office setting.
Willis - Ekbom disease / restless legs syndrome ( WED / RLS ) seems to be a frequent cause of intractable chronic insomnia ( ICI ) but is under - recognized in children / adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions ( NDCs ) , as many patients do not have the ability to express the underlying " urge - to - move " . In light of this , we aim to develop a protocol for behavioral observations supporting the diagnosis of WED / RLS . We investigated 26 pediatric patients ( age 1 - 16 years , median 8) with NDCs , ICI and evidence of familial WED / RLS employing ( 1 ) " emplotted narratives " for description of the various " urge - to - move " presentations and ( 2 ) self - description and " behavioral observations " during a " suggested clinical immobilization test " ( SCIT ) . Parental narratives reflected typical WED / RLS - related " urge - to - move " symptoms during day- , bed- , and nighttime in all patients . Fifteen out of 26 patients could describe the " urge - to - move " during the SCIT . Ten out of 26 patients , unable to describe their symptoms due to cognitive disabilities , showed patterns of " relieving - movements " upon observation . Sensory processing abnormalities were reported in all patients , with tactile sensitivities ( 26/26 ) ( including shifted pain threshold ) as the most common sensory domain . " Emplotted narratives " and structured " behavioral observations " support recognition of familial WED / RLS associated movement patterns and provide a useful tool for the diagnosis of WED / RLS in children with NDCs in a clinical office setting .
Willis-Ekbom disease is also known as?
Willis - Ekbom disease is also known as ?
Restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome