Cognitive and behavioral anomalies among insomnia patients with mixed restless legs and periodic limb movement disorder.

This study examined whether patients who have periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), with or without comorbid restless legs syndrome (RLS), display the sleep-disruptive cognitive and behavioral anomalies found among primary insomnia sufferers. Archival data from a Sleep History Questionnaire, home-based polysomnography, and a sleep log were obtained for matched RLS/PLMD, primary insomnia, and noncomplaining volunteer samples. Statistical comparisons showed that the RLS/PLMD and primary insomnia samples differed significantly from the normal sleepers in regard to their propensities for certain sleep disruptive habits, perceived difficulties controlling pre-sleep cognitive activity, and their subjective sleep appraisals. These findings suggest RLS/PLMD patients display many of the cognitive and behavioral anomalies thought to perpetuate primary insomnia. Hence, behavioral interventions may be warranted for RLS/PLMD patients.