The urge to move: From restless legs syndrome to impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) in Parkinson's disease (PD) are defined as a failure to resist an urge to behave in a way that may be debilitating for oneself or others. The suggested immobilization test (SIT) has been developed to assess the urge to move and support the diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in the general population and in PD. A clinical association between RLS and ICDs has been shown in PD and in the general population. We hypothesized that there could be a semiological overlap between RLS and ICDs, and conducted SIT in PD patients with and without ICDs. Fifty PD patients with (n = 17) and without (n = 33) current ICDs were included. SIT, videopolysomnography, demographical treatment, and motor, psycho-behavioural and sleep characteristics, including RLS, were recorded. PD patients with ICDs reported increased subjective discomfort during SIT (SD-SIT) compared to those without ICDs (p = .024). Multivariable analysis confirmed ICDs as an independent factor associated with increased SD-SIT in PD, regardless of the presence of RLS, PD severity and dopamine agonist treatment dose. The discomfort measured by SIT might not only reflect the urge to move in RLS but also the ICDs in PD, suggesting that ICDs and RLS in PD could share a common phenomenology.

Automated summary

The study identified a clinical association between impulse control disorders (ICDs) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) in Parkinson's disease patients, with ICDs leading to increased subjective discomfort during the SIT test.