Modeling the causal relationships between symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome and the patient-reported impact of RLS

The objective of this study is to examine the causal relationships between the symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and specific clinical and subjective health-related, quality of life consequences. Structural equation modeling was applied to data from a questionnaire-based observational study. The RLS morbidities of decreased functional alertness and emotional distress in our sample of patients appear to be mostly secondary to the sleep disturbance associated with RLS. There was no clear indication of any other feature of RLS affecting these two aspects of RLS morbidity. A primary treatment goal should be the reduction of the sleep disturbance of RLS, both to decrease the RLS-related nocturnal distress and to improve daytime functioning.