Is Restless Leg Syndrom based on a flawed survey?

Eugen G Tarnow  April 6 2017 02:25:21 PM

By Eugen Tarnow, Ph.D.
Avalon Business Systems, Inc.
http://AvalonAnalytics.com

When one constructs a survey it is important that the questions are not leading to the answer.  

This is not the case with the "International Restless Leg Syndrome Rating Scale" - see http://www.rls.org.au/pdf/PKGD6.pdf ).

Each question suggests to the patient that they have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS).  For example:

"1. Overall, how would you rate the RLS discomfort in you legs or arms?"

"2. Overall, how would you rate the need to move around because of your RLS symptoms?"

etc.

This survey was produced by "The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group" and "validated" in a journal called SleepMedicine (see http://www.sleep-journal.com/article/S1389-9457(02)00258-7/abstract ).

My guess is that there is a substantial overlap between high scores on the International Restless Leg Syndrome Rating Scale and and suggestibility.

No wonder there are a lot of people who perceive themselves to suffer from RLS.

No wonder there is no known cause of RLS.

And no wonder that the placebo effect is so large: a-clinical-trial-with-humorous-results

But seriously, how much is this costing us tax payers?
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