Skip to Main Content

Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy
2018. Vol. 26, no. 2, 53–78
doi:10.17759/cpp.2018260204
ISSN: 2075-3470 / 2311-9446 (online)

Application of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy in the treatment of restless legs syndrome

5700

A. Melehin

PDF (RUS)
Online translation in english
GS
Information
in Google Scholar

Abstract

The paper demonstrates that the basis of treatment of the restless legs syndrome (RLS) is combination therapy, which includes medication and non-pharmacological approaches. The limitations of the medication approach are presented. For the first time, the following directive non-drug approaches used in the treatment of RLS with evidence-based effectiveness are systematized: body-mind approach, behavioral and cognitive-behavioral second- and third-wave psychotherapy, and rational-emotive-behavioral therapy.

General Information

Keywords: restless legs syndrome, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, medication approach, non-pharmacological approach, chronic insomnia

Journal rubric: Research Reviews

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2018260204

For citation: Melehin A. Application of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy in the treatment of restless legs syndrome. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya = Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2018. Vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 53–78. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2018260204. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

  1. Akhundova L.E.. Vostrikova E.V.. Shchepankevich L.A. Sindrom bespokoinykh nog v praktike nevrologa [Restless leg syndrome in the practice of neurologist] [Elektronnyi resurs]. Meditsina i obrazovaniye v Sibiri [Medicine and education in Siberia], 2011, no. 4. Available at: http://ngmu.ru/cozo/mos/article/text_full. php?id=499 (Accessed 14.05.2018).
  2. Koval’chuk M.O.. Kalinkin A.L. Sindrom bespokoinykh nog: patogenez, diagnostika, lecheniye. Obzor literatury [Restless leg syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment. Literature review]. Nervno-myshechnyye bolezni [Neuromuscular diseases], 2012, no. 3, pp. 8—19. doi:10.17650/2222-8721-2012-0-3-8-19
  3. Levin O.S. Sindrom bespokoinykh nog (bolezn Villiziya-Ekboma). 2-e izd. [Restless leg syndrome (Willis-Ekbom disease). 2nd edition]. Moscow: MEDpress-inform, 2016. 96 p.
  4. Poluektov M.G. Diagnostika i lechenie rasstroistv sna [Diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders]. Moscow: MEDpress-inform, 2016. 256 p.
  5. Aukerman M.M., Aukerman D., Bayard M., Tudiver F., Thorp L., Bailey B. Exercise and restless legs syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 2006. Vol. 19 (5), pp. 487—493. doi:10.3122/ jabfm.19.5.487
  6. Bablas V., Yap K., Cunnington D., Swieca J., Greenwood K.M. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Restless Legs Syndrome: a Proof of Concept Trial. Mindfulness, 2016. Vol. 7 (2), pp. 396—408. doi:10.1007/s12671-015-0457-9
  7. Bega D., Malkani R. Alternative treatment of restless legs syndrome: an overview of the evidence for mind-body interventions, lifestyle interventions, and neutraceuticals. Sleep Medicine, 2016. Vol. 17, pp 99—105. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2015.09.009
  8. Brand S., Beck J., Hatzinger M., Savic M., Holsboer-Trachsler E. Unfavorable polysomnographic sleep patterns predict poor sleep and poor psychological functioning 3 years later in patients with restless legs syndrome. Neuropsychobiology, 2011. Vol. 63 (2), pp. 92—102. doi:10.1159/000317549
  9. Chen P.H., Cheng S.-J. Restless legs syndrome among the elderly. International Journal of Gerontology, 2009. Vol. 3 (4), pp. 197—203. doi:10.1016/S1873- 9598(10)70001-6
  10. Perlis M.L., Jungquist C. (eds.). Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia: A Session-by-Session Guide. New York: Springer, 2008. 182 p.
  11. Edinger J.D. Periodic limb movements: Assessment and management strategies. In M. Perlis, K.L. Lichstein (eds.). Treating sleep disorders: Principles and practice of behavioral sleep medicine. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2003. P. 286—304.
  12. Edinger J.D, Fins A., Sullivan R.J., Marsh G.R., Dailey D.S., Young M. Comparison of cognitive-behavioral therapy and clonazepam for treating periodic limb movement disorder. Sleep, 1996. Vol. 19 (5), pp. 442—444.
  13. Garcia-Borreguero D., Ferini-Strambi L., Kohnen R., O’Keeffe S., Trenkwalder C., Högl B., Benes H., Jennum P., Partinen M., Fer D., Montagna P., Bassetti C.L., Iranzo A., Sonka K., Williams A.-M. European guidelines on management of restless legs syndrome: report of a joint task force by the European Federation of Neurological Societies, the European Neurological Society and the European Sleep Research Society. European Journal of Neurology, 2012. Vol. 19 (11), pp. 1385— 1396. doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2012.03853.x
  14. Godau J., Spinnler N., Wevers A.-K., Trenkwalder C., Berg D. Poor effect of guideline based treatment of restless legs syndrome in clinical practice. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2010. Vol. 81 (12), pp. 1390—1395. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2010.211417
  15. Hornyak M. Depressive disorders in restless legs syndrome: epidemiology, pathophysiology and management. CNS Drugs, 2010. Vol. 24 (2), pp. 89—98. doi:10.2165/11317500-000000000-00000
  16. Hornyak M., Grossmann C., Kohnen R., Schlatterer M., Richter H., Voderholzer U., Riemann D., Berger M. Cognitive behavioural group therapy to improve patients strategies for coping with restless legs syndrome: A proof-of-concept trial. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2008. Vol. 79 (7), pp. 823—825. doi:10.1136/ jnnp.2007.138867
  17. Lee H.B., Hening W.A., Allen R.P., Kalaydjian A.E., Earley C.J., Eaton W.W., Lyketsos C.G. Restless legs syndrome is associated with DSM-IV major depressive disorder and panic disorder in the community. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 2008. Vol. 20 (1), pp. 101—105. doi:10.1176/jnp.2008.20.1.101
  18. Lichstein K.L., Riedel B.W., Wilson N.M., Lester K.W., Aguillard R.N. Relaxation and sleep compression for late-life insomnia: a placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2001. Vol. 69 (2), pp. 227—239. doi:10.1037/0022- 006X.69.2.227
  19. Newman C. Using REBT in the Treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome: A Case- Study. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 2014. Vol. 32 (2), pp. 139—149. doi:10.1007/s10942-013-0174-z
  20. Niazi S., Auger R., Hurwitz T.D. An Overview of Restless Leg Syndrome for the Mental Health Professional. Psychiatric Annals, 2015. Vol. 45 (1), pp. 35—40. doi:10.3928/00485713-20150106-08
  21. Ohayon M.M., Roth T. Prevalence of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in the general population. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2002. Vol. 53 (1), pp. 547—554. doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(02)00443-9
  22. Peters A., Cunnington D., Kenneth M. The need for psychological therapies for sleep disorders other than insomnia: Potential for mindfulness [Elektronnyi resurs]. European Health Psychologist, 2017. Vol. 18 (2). Available at: https://researchonline. jcu.edu.au/44845/1/1427-912-1-PB.pdf (Accessed 14.05.2018).
  23. Pigeon W.R., Yurcheshen M. Behavioral Sleep Medicine Interventions for Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2009. Vol. 4 (4), pp. 487—494. doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2009.07.008
  24. Manconi M., García-Borreguero D. (eds.). Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis Ekbom Disease Long-Term Consequences and Management. New York: Springer, 2017. 279 р.
  25. Sharon D. Nonpharmacologic Management of Restless Legs Syndrome (Willis- Ekbom Disease). Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2015. Vol. 10 (3), pp. 263—278. doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.05.018
  26. Silber M.H., Ehrenberg B.L., Allen R.P., Buchfuhrer M.J., Earley C.J., Hening W.A., Rye D.B. An algorithm for the management of restless legs syndrome. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2004. Vol. 79 (7), pp. 916—922. doi:10.4065/79.7.916
  27. Simpson S.D., Dryden W. Comparison between REBT and visual/kinaesthetic dissociation in the treatment of panic disorder: An empirical study. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 2011. Vol. 29 (3), pp. 158—176. doi:10.1007/s10942-011-0136-2
  28. Taylor H.L., Hailes H.P., Ong J. Third-Wave Therapies for Insomnia. Current Sleep Medicine Reports, 2015. Vol. 1 (3), pp. 166—176. doi:10.1007/s40675-015-0020-1
  29. Petersen T.J., Sprich S.E., Wilhelm S. (eds.). The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. New York: Humana Press, 2016. 327 p. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-2605-3
  30. Daniele Thiago Medeiros da Costa D., Veralice Meireles Sales de Bruin. The relationship between physical activity, restless legs syndrome, and health-related quality of life in type 2 diabetes. Endocrine, 2013. Vol. 44 (1), pp. 125—131. doi:10.1007/s12020-012-9841-6
  31. Vlaeyen J.W., Morley S. Cognitive-behavioral treatments for chronic pain: what works for whom? Clinical Journal of Pain, 2005. Vol. 21 (1), pp. 1—8. doi:10.1097/00002508-200501000-00001
  32. Zintzaras E., Kitsios G.D., Papathanasiou A.A., Konitsiotis S., Miligkos M., Rodopoulou P., Hadjigeorgiou G.M. Randomized trials of dopamine agonists in restless legs syndrome: a systematic review, quality assessment, and meta-analysis. Clinical Therapeutics, 2010. Vol. 32 (2), pp. 222—237. doi:10.1016/j. clinthera.2010.01.028.

Information About the Authors

Aleksey Melehin, PhD in Psychology, Associate professor, Stolypin Humanitarian Institute, clinical psychologist of the highest qualification category, somnologist, cognitive behavioral psychotherapist, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5633-7639, e-mail: clinmelehin@yandex.ru

Metrics

Views

Total: 3976
Previous month: 15
Current month: 5

Downloads

Total: 5700
Previous month: 12
Current month: 9