Validation of the Innsbruck REM sleep behavior disorder inventory

Mov Disord. 2012 Nov;27(13):1673-8. doi: 10.1002/mds.25223.

Abstract

A diagnosis of definite REM sleep behavior disorder requires both a positive history for REM sleep behavior disorder and polysomnographic demonstration of REM sleep without atonia. To improve and facilitate screening for REM sleep behavior disorder, there is a need for simple clinical tools with sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the identification of subjects with probable REM sleep behavior disorder. We developed a short REM sleep behavior disorder screening questionnaire with 7 REM sleep behavior disorder- and 2 non-REM sleep behavior disorder-specific control items and performed a validation study in 70 REM sleep behavior disorder subjects and 140 sleep disorder controls. Response patterns to all 7 REM sleep behavior disorder-specific items differed between REM sleep behavior disorder and non-REM sleep behavior disorder patients (all P < 0.05), whereas the 2 non-REM sleep behavior disorder-specific control items did not differentiate between REM sleep behavior disorder and non-REM sleep behavior disorder (all P > .05). In 5 of the 7 REM sleep behavior disorder-specific items, AUC was greater than 0.700. These 5 items were included in the Innsbruck REM sleep behavior disorder inventory. In this questionnaire, a cutoff of 0.25 (number of positive symptoms divided by number of answered questions) had a sensitivity of 0.914 and a specificity of 0.857 for both idiopathic and Parkinson's-related REM sleep behavior disorder (AUC, 0.886). The Innsbruck REM sleep behavior disorder inventory is a promising, easy-to-use, short screening tool for REM sleep behavior disorder with excellent sensitivity and specificity for both idiopathic and Parkinson's-related REM sleep behavior disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Area Under Curve
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polysomnography
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / diagnosis*
  • ROC Curve
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Young Adult