RUNNING HEAD: Medical Disorders 2 Periodic Limb Movement Disorder & Restless Leg Syndrome Chelsea Reese The University of Alabama at Birmingham PSY 488: Kristin T. Avis, Ph.D., CBSM December 14, 2018 Abstract The restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) can be separated but overlapping sicknesses. Both feature night-living happening by chance, without any planning occasional limb movements that can cause sleep disruption, but each has separate medicine-based features that are clearly connected with or related to the management of the patient. The cause of RLS is made by meeting established medicine-based judging needed things, not from discovery of occasional limb movements of sleep (PLMS) on a sleep study. PLMD does require the presence of PLMS on polysomnography as well as a connected sleep complaint. Both PLMS and RLS can happen with other sleep problems as well as in healthy people. Treatment of RLS is based on the pattern and extremeness of the problem, with rgic drugs generally liked for/preferred for first treatment. Anticonvulsants, pain-relieving drugs, and drugs that cause sleep also have a role. A treatment set of computer instructions is given to help with the management of RLS. Treatment of PLMD depends on many of the same medicines but is generally more plain/honest/easy and places a greater reliance on levodopa compounds and drug that calms or causes sleep. Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) This disorder is characterized by repeated and uncontrollable movements of arms or legs occurring during sleep. This condition may affect the legs and arms and is sometimes confused with restless leg syndrome. This condition causes brief muscle twitches and leg kicks. The involuntary movements of limbs causes sleep disturbances or insomnia and a child suffering from this condition usually experiences other mental, physical, behavioral or social problems seen during the day. As a result of disturbed sleep at night, the child may experience daytime sleepiness. However, the exact cause of this problem is not known but is associated with a family history of this condition. Low iron levels, nerve problems, poor blood circulation and kidney disorders are also common causes of this problem. This condition is also associated with other sleep problems such as narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome To diagnose this problem, a parent may notice the signs at night when the child is sleeping, an overnight sleep study is often required to confirm the diagnosis along with other medical and physical examination such ad blood tests to determine the iron levels. Treatment Children and adolescents with PLMD are advised to have good sleep hygiene by having enough sleep and having regular sleep patterns, the children should also avoid caffeine as it worsens the symptoms of PLMD. In case the iron level are.