Restless Legs Syndrome is Overestimated by Newly Graduated Physicians and Frequently Confounded with a Behavioral Pattern of Leg Restlessness

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the prevalence of self-diagnosed RLS/WED among newly graduated physicians and to compare self-assessment based on written diagnostic criteria with diagnostic evaluation based on clinical interview. Methods Newly graduated physicians were first asked to self-assess for RLS/WED after reading the diagnostic criteria. A subset of participants who self-diagnosed RLS/WED subsequently underwent diagnostic evaluation through clinical interview conducted by a trained physician. Among participants with positive self-assessment who underwent individual clinical interview, we determined the proportion in whom RLS/WED was clinically confirmed or excluded. Results Self-diagnosis markedly overestimated the prevalence of RLS/WED when compared with diagnostic evaluation. Among the 111 participants with positive self-assessment who underwent individual clinical interview, RLS/WED was confirmed in only 7 (6.3%) and was not confirmed in 104 (93.7%), demonstrating a high frequency of unconfirmed positive self-diagnosis. Conclusions Self-assessment based solely on written diagnostic criteria substantially overestimates the diagnosis of RLS/WED, even among newly graduated physicians. These findings highlight the limitations of unmediated use of diagnostic criteria and underscore the importance of clinical training and structured clinical interview in the accurate diagnosis of RLS/WED.