Creating cartoons to represent habitual leg movements / Desenvolvimento de modelos iconográficos representativos de movimentos habituais de pernas

Abstract Many people have a habit of moving their legs and believe that this behavior is due to the restless legs syndrome (RLS), a highly prevalent neurological condition that greatly impairs the quality of life of affected individuals. This behavioral pattern, characterized by the habit of moving one's legs and feet, may be an important confounding factor in the diagnosis of RLS. Objective: To describe the main movements associated with this benign behavioral state to characterize a possible clinical condition that can contribute to the differential diagnosis of RLS. Methods: Experienced sleep specialists, who primarily see RLS patients listed the most frequent movements people without RLS report while describing their suspected RLS. We first compiled a list of the lower-limb movements described by the specialists. Then, one of the authors (KC) carried out all movements of the list on camera to obtain a video footage. This footage was sent to one of the authors, EPC, who, alongside a group of students, drew graphic representations (cartoons) of the recorded movements. Results: The panel of sleep experts described 13 leg movements commonly reported by their patients. The experts reported 11 simple movements and two combined movements. Conclusion: In this study we developed an instrument that allows us to oppose and distinguish a pathological condition (RLS) from a behavioral phenomenon. This state of behavioral leg fidgeting needs to be better characterized and may eventually be recognized as a clinical entity per se.

Resumo Muitas pessoas têm o hábito de movimentar as pernas e acreditam que esse comportamento decorre da Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas (SPI), uma condição neurológica altamente prevalente com grande impacto na qualidade de vida dos indivíduos acometidos. Esse padrão de comportamento, caracterizado pelo costume de mover as pernas e os pés, pode ser um importante fator confundidor no diagnóstico da SPI. Objetivo: Descrever os principais movimentos associados a esse estado comportamental benigno, com a finalidade de caracterizar uma eventual condição clínica que possa contribuir para o diagnóstico diferencial da SPI. Métodos: Especialistas em distúrbios do sono, que atendem principalmente pacientes com SPI, listaram os movimentos que as pessoas sem SPI reportam com maior frequência enquanto descrevem a sua suspeita de síndrome. Elaboramos uma lista de movimentos dos membros inferiores descritos pelos especialistas e um dos autores (KC) realizou esses movimentos para que fossem gravados em vídeo. Essa filmagem foi enviada ao autor EPC, que, em conjunto com um grupo de alunos, realizou a representação gráfica (cartoon) dos movimentos gravados. Resultados: Os especialistas reportaram 13 movimentos de pernas, sendo 11 movimentos simples e dois movimentos combinados. Conclusão: Neste estudo, elaboramos um instrumento que permite opor, com a finalidade de diferenciá-las, uma condição patológica (SPI) de um fenômeno comportamental. Esse estado de inquietude comportamental das pernas necessita ser mais bem caracterizado, podendo eventualmente vir a ser reconhecido como uma entidade clínica per se.

Síndrome de piernas inquietas/Willis Ekbom desde la mirada del psiquiatra / Restless legs syndrome from the perspective of psychiatry

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) or Willis-Ekbom Disease is an under-diagnosed chronic and progressive primary sensory-motor disorder. It can lead to severe sleep disturbances, a usual cause of consultation. It is characterized by an urgent need to move the legs in resting situations, a cardinal symptom that is usually accompanied by an unpleasant sensation in legs. These symptoms appear or aggravate at the end of the day and in resting situations and are alleviated with movement. Based on these clinical characteristics, it has been defined as a quiescegenic focal akathisia. The diagnosis is essentially clinical. As a guide, there are five cardinal diagnostic criteria. The treatment consists of non-pharmacological measures and the use of medications such as dopamine agonists. Despite the treatment, the symptoms persist in 40% of patients. Psychiatrists should be aware of the syndrome since many drugs used by them such as antipsychotics, antidepressants and anxiolytics can worsen the symptoms. Moreover, the syndrome may be associated with depressive and anxiety diseases.

Comorbidities, medications and depressive symptoms in patients with restless legs syndrome and migraine / Comorbidades, medicações e sintomas depressivos em pacientes com síndrome das pernas inquietas e enxaqueca

OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiology of migraine and restless legs syndrome (RLS) seems to involve inherited mechanism and dysfunction of the dopaminergic system. Previous articles have shown that the frequency of RLS is higher in migraine patients than in controls. We conducted a study to evaluate comorbidities, medication used and depressive symptoms that can explain the relation between migraine and RLS. METHODS: A case-control study was performed in which patients with migraine (n=72) and a control group without migraine (n=72) were interviewed. Data including RLS diagnosis, depressive symptoms, comorbidities and drugs used were evaluated. RESULTS: There was a significant association between migraine and RLS (p=0.01), but comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, anemia and drugs used did not explain this association. Depression scores, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, were higher in migraine patients with RLS (p =0.04). CONCLUSION: No specific factors explaining the association between migraine and RLS were found. Symptoms of depression were more frequent in patients with migraine and RLS.

OBJETIVO: A fisiopatologia da enxaqueca e da síndrome das pernas inquietas (SPI) parece envolver mecanismos genéticos e disfunção do sistema dopaminérgico. Artigos anteriores mostraram que a frequência de SPI em pacientes com enxaqueca é maior do que nos controles. Desenvolvemos um estudo para avaliar comorbidades, medicamentos utilizados e sintomas depressivos em pacientes com migrânea e SPI. MÉTODOS: Foi desenvolvido um estudo de caso-controle. Foram entrevistados pacientes com enxaqueca (n=72) e sujeitos de um grupo controle (n=72). Foram avaliados dados incluindo diagnóstico de SPI, sintomas depressivos, comorbidades e medicamentos usados. RESULTADOS: Houve associação significativa entre enxaqueca e SPI (p=0,01). Comorbidades como diabetes, hipertensão, anemia ou drogas utilizadas não explicam esta associação. Escores de depressão, medidos pelo Inventário de Beck, foram mais altos em pacientes com enxaqueca e SPI (p=0,04). CONCLUSÃO: Não foram encontrados fatores específicos que explicam a associação entre enxaqueca e SPI. Sintomas de depressão foram mais frequentes em pacientes com enxaqueca e SPI.

Alto subdiagnóstico del síndrome de piernas inquietas en la consulta ambulatoria neurológica y psiquiátrica / Restless legs syndrome is highly underdiagnosed in a neurologic-psychiatric outpatient clinic

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that is characterized by the irresistible urge to move the legs and is very common. In the last decade, much attention has been focused on RLS, given its high occurrence, underdiagnosis, and impact on quality of Ufe. Aim: To determine the frequency of RLS in a neurologic-psychiatric outpatient clinic. Patients and Methods: We interviewed patients attending a prívate neurological outpatient clinic, using a standardized validated questionnaire, and an additional phone interview to confirm diagnosis. Results: Of approximately 800 people attending the clinic, the questionnaire was answered by 238 subjects (168 females). Fifteen percent of respondents were affected by RLS and none had been diagnosed before. Most patients had a severe form that probably required treatment. Conclusions: A low awareness of RLS exists in Chile, even among specialized physicians.

Rest-Activity Rhythm, Sleep Pattern and Quality of Life in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome

PURPOSE: In this study rest-activity rhythm, sleep pattern and quality of life of patients with restless legs syndrome were compared with those of a normal group. METHODS: The participants in this study were 36 patients with restless legs syndrome diagnosed by a neurologist and 36 participants in the normal group. An actigraph, sleep diary, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Insomnia Severity Index scale were used as measurement tools for the study. Chi-square test, Lamda test, t-test and Kendall's correlation with SPSS 12.0 program were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Patients with restless legs syndrome had a higher rest-activity rhythm curve of Least 5 hr's activity (L5) and Most 10 hr's activity (M10) than those of normal group and sleep problems included decreased sleep efficiency and increased sleep latency, wake time and number of awakenings. The scores for the subscales of quality of life in patients with restless legs syndrome were lower than the normal group for general health, physical functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, role limitation due to physical problems, social functioning, bodily pain, vitality and mental health. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that further studies are needed to identify rest-activity rhythm according to symptom severity and to develop nursing interventions which consider rest-activity rhythm.

[Ekbom syndrome about 3 cases]

In addition to their common embryonic origin, the psychism and skin maintain privileged relations on several accounts. These relations can be found disturbed particularly among old people whose brain as well as skin have undergone the effects of senility. Ekbom syndrome or delusional parasitosis shows dermato-psychological intrications especially among the elderly. Through three clinical observations, the authors remind the clinical signs of this syndrome and discuss its psychopathological elements and its therapy. This syndrome is probably more frequent that described. To treat it adequately, it's important to situate it in nosographic context. This goes above all through a collaboration of the different involved disciplines

Síndrome de Ekbom acompanhada de automutilação / Ekbom's syndrome followed by self-mutilation

O delírio parasitário (ou síndrome de Ekbom) é uma condição rara, onde o paciente apresenta uma forte convicção de que está infestado por pequenos parasitas ou organismos. Muitas vezes, os delírios são tão intensos que levam esses pacientes à automutilação. Relatamos aqui um caso de um senhor de 67 anos, isolado socialmente, solteiro, apresentando delírio parasitário em região perineal, culminando em lesões por automutilação.

Delusional parasitosis (or Ekbom's syndrome) is a rare condition, in which the patient has a strong conviction that he or she is infested by small parasites or organisms. These delusions are often so intense that they lead the patient to self-mutilation. We report a case of a 67-year-old man, socially isolated, single, with delusional parasitosis in the perineal area, culminating in self-mutilation lesions.

Síndrome de Ekbom e torcicolo espasmódico: Relato de caso / Ekbom's sydrome and spasmodic torticollis: case report

A síndrome de Ekbom, conhecida também como delírio de infestaçäo parasitária, acarofobia, "delusional parasitosis", parasitose psicogênica, é doença de rara ocorrência. Caracteriza-se pela firme convicçäo dos pacientes de que estäo infectados por vermes que saem pela pele, em geral do couro cabeludo ou até mesmo da boca, dos olhos e da regiäo genital. A maioria dos pacientes é idosa e do sexo feminino, freqüentemente com isolamento social. Alguns casos estäo associados a doenças orgânicas como hipertireoidismo, diabetes, lesöes corticais, intoxicaçöes medicamentosas. A comorbidade com torcicolo espasmódico, até onde vai nosso conhecimento, é um achado inédito na literatura. Relatamos caso de uma senhora de 72 anos de idade que se apresentou com torcicolo espasmódico associado ao quadro psiquiátrico