Restless Sleep Disorder: My Take
An expert consensus on a newly recognized sleep disorder, restless sleep disorder (RSD), may provide a much-needed link between behavioral issues in children and sleep. The evidence is most substantial for ages 6-18, though younger children can be included. Restless sleep may manifest as (i) poor school performance, (ii) daytime sleepiness, (iii) behavioral concerns, (iv) fatigue, (v) irritability, or (vi) hyperactivity. Other sleep disorders, namely, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and insufficient sleep, also have similar symptoms. Since RSD was previously not a recognized entity, many children did not meet diagnostic criteria for the other sleep disorders mentioned leaving many untreated or mistreated.
The proposed diagnostic criteria for RSD:
- Complaint of ‘restless sleep’ by the parent, caregiver, or patient;
- Large body movements involving either the whole body, all four limbs, arm, legs, or head (see Image 1);
- Occurs during sleep;
- At least three times a week;
- For three or more months;
- Video sleep study documenting more than five movements per hour;
- Impaired functioning, i.e., behavioral, educational, academic, social, occupational, or other important areas;
- Not adequately explained by another condition.
Written by: Avinesh S Bhar, MD, a Sleep Specialist in Georgia
Source : Are we overmedicating our children?