Parkinson's disease is a common motor disorder that not only leads to motor symptoms but also autonomic dysregulation, mental changes, sensory disturbances, and sleep disorders such as increased daytime sleepiness and sleep fragmentation. The aim of this study was to find out how the daytime and night-time motor activity levels in individuals without motor disorders differ from patients with Parkinson's disease. Daytime and night-time motor activity levels in 17 PD patients and 69 controls were measured for three consecutive days and nights via actigraphy, a method of continuous long-term assessment of activity levels. A ratio between night-time and daytime motor activity was calculated. PD patients had a 1.5-2-fold lower daytime motor activity but also showed 1.5-2-fold higher motor activity at night time. Older controls showed a lower daytime but similar night-time motor activity when compared to younger controls. A ratio of night-time to daytime motor activity could clearly distinguish controls and patients. The possibility to distinguish patients and controls by the ratio of night-time to daytime motor activity is worth further investigation.

The European Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Study Group (EURLSSG) is an association of European RLS experts who are actively involved in RLS research. A major aim of the Study Group is the development and continuous improvement of standards for diagnosis and treatment of RLS. Several members developed study designs and evaluation methods in investigator-initiated trials early in the 1990s, and all members have since contributed to many pivotal and nonpivotal drug trials for the treatment of RLS. The recommendations on clinical investigations of pharmacological treatment of RLS patients summarize the group's expertise and knowledge acquired through clinical trials. The recommendations primarily address how to plan and conduct confirmatory, randomized clinical studies in patients with idiopathic RLS. Advice is presented for the diagnosis of RLS and clinical and polysomnographic inclusion and exclusion criteria. Primary and secondary endpoints for an evaluation of efficacy are based on a critical description of validated methods for both short- and long-term trials, also in special populations (children, pregnant women, elderly patients). The recommendations include the assessment of augmentation. Finally, general issues including the evaluation of safety and tolerability, as well as specific neurological and cardiovascular risks and sleep attacks/daytime somnolence, are discussed. The aim of these recommendations is to support research groups or pharmaceutical companies in the design of optimized study protocols.

The results indicate that aripiprazole may be an efficacious and safe treatment option for pre-treated patients with schizophrenia also in a naturalistic psychiatrist/neurologist practice setting with effects on health and psychosocial functioning and a comparably low dropout rate.

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