The aim of this study is to examine patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) in terms of difficulty in emotion regulation and insomnia. A total of 52 patients with RLS and 57 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form (DERS-16), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and International Restless Legs Syndrome rating scale were applied to participants. The mean age was 34.00 ± 8.27 years in patients and 31.70 ± 9.12 years in control. The scores of DERS-16, ISI, HADS-A, and HADS-D were significantly higher in the patients than the controls (p = 0.000). The DERS-16 total score showed a significant correlation with age (r = 0.404, p = 0.003), ISI (r = 0.281, p = 0.043), IRLS score (r = 0.422, p = 0.002), HADS-A (r = 0.409, p = 0.003), and HADS-D (r = 0.416, p = 0.002). The factors (age, gender, ferritin, ISI, and IRLS scores) that may be associated with the DERS-16 total scores were assessed with stepwise regression analysis. It was seen that the IRLSs variable had the most ability and could predict 45% (β = 0.625, p < 0.001, ∆R2 = 0.450) of difficulty in emotion regulation. In addition, the variable of insomnia could predict difficulty in emotion regulation by 17% (β = 0.097, p = 0.001, ∆R2 = 0.170). Patients with RLS may experience more emotion regulation difficulties than healthy controls. RLS severity and insomnia may be factors affecting emotion regulation difficulties in patients with RLS. According to our knowledge and our literature review, this finding seems to be the first report in the literature.

本研究的目的是检查不宁腿综合征 (RLS) 患者的情绪调节困难和失眠情况。共招募了 52 名 RLS 患者和 57 名健康志愿者。情绪调节困难量表简表 (DERS-16)、失眠严重程度指数 (ISI)、医院焦虑和抑郁量表 (HADS) 和国际不宁腿综合症评定量表应用于参与者。患者的平均年龄为 34.00 ± 8.27 岁，对照组为 31.70 ± 9.12 岁。患者的 DERS-16、ISI、HADS-A 和 HADS-D 评分显着高于对照组 ( p  = 0.000)。DERS-16 总分与年龄 ( r  = 0.404, p  = 0.003)、ISI ( r = 0.281，p  = 0.043），IRLS 分数（r  = 0.422，p  = 0.002），HADS-A（r  = 0.409，p  = 0.003）和 HADS-D（r  = 0.416，p  = 0.002）。通过逐步回归分析评估可能与 DERS-16 总分相关的因素（年龄、性别、铁蛋白、ISI 和 IRLS 评分）。可以看出，IRLSs 变量具有最大的能力，可以预测 45%（β  = 0.625，p  < 0.001，ΔR2 = 0.450）的情绪调节困难。此外，失眠变量可以预测情绪调节困难 17% ( β  = 0.097, p = 0.001，ΔR2 = 0.170）。RLS 患者可能比健康对照者经历更多的情绪调节困难。RLS严重程度和失眠可能是影响RLS患者情绪调节困难的因素。根据我们的知识和文献回顾，这一发现似乎是文献中的第一份报告。