Open AccessReflection impulsivity perceptual decision‐making in patients with restless legs syndrome
Author(s) -
Heim Beatrice,
Pertl MarieTheres,
Stefani Ambra,
Heidbreder Anna,
Zamarian Laura,
Brandauer Elisabeth,
Averbeck Bruno,
Delazer Margarete,
Seppi Klaus,
Högl Birgit,
Poewe Werner,
Djamshidian Atbin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
annals of clinical and translational neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.824
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2328-9503
DOI - 10.1002/acn3.535
Subject(s) - impulsivity , dopaminergic , medicine , audiology , task (project management) , restless legs syndrome , perception , psychology , psychiatry , neuroscience , dopamine , neurology , management , economics
Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate perceptual decision‐making and reflection impulsivity in drug naïve patients with restless legs syndrome ( RLS ) and patients with dopaminergic therapy. Methods A total of 35 RLS patients (20 who were drug naïve regarding dopaminergic medication and 15 patients treated with dopaminergic therapy without augmentation or impulse control disorders) were included in this study. We used the Beads task and the Pixel task which assess reflection impulsivity and perceptual decision‐making, respectively. Results were compared to 20 healthy controls. Results Both RLS patient groups gathered less evidence than healthy controls in the Beads task before making a decision ( P < 0.001), but patients with dopaminergic treatment gathered less information than drug naïve patients ( P = 0.026). Moreover, both patient groups made more choices against the evidence than healthy controls (both P < 0.01), but there was no difference between the two patient groups. In the Pixel task, we found an effect of task difficulty on reaction times with patients and controls responding faster with reduced task difficulty. There was neither an effect of group on reaction times nor an effect of group on error rates. Conclusions Reflection impulsivity is common in RLS patients, regardless whether they are drug naïve or treated with dopaminergic therapy. Thus, RLS patients tend to gather less information compared to healthy controls which could have a negative effect on decision‐making in daily life and should be investigated further.