Journal of attention disordersJan 4, 2015

Link Between Restless Legs Syndrome and ADHD in Adults from a German Community

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Updated Mar 29, 2026

Abstract

Adult ADHD is associated with a 3.18 times greater likelihood of meeting diagnostic criteria for restless legs syndrome (RLS).

The study involved a community-based sample of 1,632 individuals.
Statistical analysis showed a significant association between adult ADHD and RLS when controlling for factors such as weight.
After accounting for sleep disturbances, the association between adult ADHD and RLS was no longer statistically significant.
These findings indicate a potential link between RLS symptoms and adult ADHD that might be influenced by sleep issues.

Simplified

OBJECTIVE: Previous research in clinical samples indicated a significant association between ADHD and restless legs syndrome (RLS). The present study examined the association between adult ADHD and RLS in the German population.

METHOD: Self-rating instruments to assess RLS, childhood ADHD, and adult ADHD were administered to a community-based sample ( N = 1,632). In addition, current depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances, weight, and height were assessed by self-report.

RESULTS: Adult ADHD was associated with statistically significant increases in the odds of meeting diagnostic criteria for RLS even when adjusting for potential confounding variables such as weight (odds ratio [OR] = 3.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.29, 7.63], p< .001). However, the association did not hold true after adjusting for the presence of sleep disturbances (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = [0.82, 4.96], p = .13).

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a strong link between RLS and adult ADHD symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of RLS among adult ADHD patients, especially as there might be a negative interactive effect.

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Link Between Restless Legs Syndrome and ADHD in Adults from a German Community

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