Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease (RLS/WED) in the child psychiatry clinic: an occult and hidden comorbidity

Ahmed Elaghoury*, MD, Manal Abed, MD, Khaled Shehatto, MDAbbassia Hospital for Mental Health, Cairo, Egypt

Pediatric Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease, (RLS/WED) (17)

ADHD

Developmental /Intellectual

disabilities (11)

Tic disorders

Growing pains (19,21)Medication induced

RLS, esp with psychotropics. (8)

Autism spectrum

disorders (11)

Migraine (3)

History of prematurity (preterm) (7)

Depression (3)

URGE Mnemonic (4)

U: Urge or sensation to move the legs

R: Rest or stillness of the legs worsens the urge to move

G: Going / Ground is good (at least temporary relief of the urge occurs with movement)

E: Evening or nighttime worsening of symptoms

Consider RLS/WED during mental healthcare of any of these clinical situations, when dealing with sleep difficulty in a child

RLS has a phenotypic series: PS102300, (OMIM)

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Email: dr.aghoury@gmail.com