Restless legs syndrome during pregnancy linked to higher risk of perinatal depression

by American Academy of Sleep Medicine

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New research found a higher risk of perinatal depression in pregnant women with restless legs syndrome.

Results show that pregnant women with RLS were three times more likely to develop perinatal depression, which involves major depressive episodes during pregnancy or the months after childbirth. They were also two times more likely to develop depressive symptoms. The association was strongest when RLS occurred during the third trimester. The findings remained significant after accounting for factors including age, education, partner status, occupation, number of children and whether the pregnancy was planned.

"We found that pregnant women with restless legs syndrome had about three times the risk of developing perinatal depression," said first author Dr. Kazuhide Tezuka, a visiting researcher in the department of mental health at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine. "This association was seen for restless legs syndrome identified in the third trimester, but not in the second."

The study was published Aug. 31 in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Restless legs syndrome is a sleep-related movement disorder characterized by a strong, nearly irresistible urge to move the legs, often accompanied by other uncomfortable sensations felt in the legs. These symptoms begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity, are temporarily or totally relieved by movement and occur exclusively or predominantly in the evening or at night, making it difficult to fall asleep.

A recent AASM survey found that 13% of Americans report having been diagnosed with RLS. Previous research also has shown that people with RLS experience depression and anxiety at four times the rate of the general U.S. population and that RLS commonly occurs during pregnancy.

The study analyzed data from 2,435 pregnant women in Japan with an average age of 30.5 years. Participants completed screening questionnaires for RLS during the second and third trimesters, revealing that 40 women (1.6%) had RLS during the second trimester, and 60 women (3.5%) had RLS in the third trimester. Researchers also tracked major depressive episodes and symptoms through three months postpartum, during which 69 participants developed perinatal depression.

According to the authors, the findings suggest that screening for RLS during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester, may help identify women at an elevated risk of perinatal depression and support earlier intervention.

"Because restless legs syndrome often develops later in pregnancy, asking about its symptoms again in the third trimester, not just at early prenatal visits, may help health care providers identify women at higher risk of perinatal depression," said Tezuka.

The researchers noted that the prevalence of RLS was lower than expected, that the number of depression cases among participants with RLS was small, that participants were self-selected volunteers and that all measures were self-reported. They emphasized that further investigation is needed to determine whether treating RLS can reduce the risk of perinatal depression.

Publication details

Kazuhide Tezuka et al., Time-varying restless legs syndrome and risk of incident perinatal depression, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s44470-026-00168-7

Journal information: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

Key medical concepts

Restless LegsPerinatal DepressionDepression, Emotional

Clinical categories

Sleep medicinePregnancyPsychology & Mental healthPsychiatryObstetrics & gynecologyWomen's healthSleep & Recovery Provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →

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