Restless Legs Syndrome

Diagnosis

Rating Scales

Rating scales have been developed and validated to quantify the severity of RLS symptoms for research purposes and to measure treatment efficacy. The scales can measure either the intensity or the frequency of symptoms, but not both. The scale of the International RLS Study Group includes patient-rated subjective responses to 10 questions.155-157 The Johns Hopkins RLS Rating Scale assesses a single factor, timing of symptoms, to identify RLS severity.158,159 The IRLS-6 uses six separate scales and includes a measure of symptoms during the day when the patient is at rest and the impact of RLS daytime sleepiness.160

The Restless Legs Syndrome Quality of Life Instrument, the Hopkins Restless Legs Syndrome Quality of Life, and the SF-36 can be used to measure the quality of life in patients with RLS.153,161-164