Assessment of abnormal involuntary movements in psychiatric patients: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Context: Movement disorders can be hyperkinetic or hypokinetic. They can be further classified as involuntary, semi-voluntary, voluntary, and automatic. These disabling and distressing disorders can be attributed largely to either neurological dysfunction or adverse effects of medications. Uncommon presentations of these disorders are often missed. It is important to study this aspect in psychiatric patients to plan appropriate measures and help improve the quality of life in these patients. Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and nature of abnormal involuntary movements in psychiatric patients. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted in an outpatient department/inpatient department (OPD/IPD) of tertiary-health care setting. Materials and Methods: After the institutional ethics committee’s permission, 50 patients attending the psychiatry OPD/IPD were enrolled and interviewed after taking their written informed consent. A semi-structured-proforma, questionnaire prepared for the study, and the AIMS scale were administered for the assessment. Data were analyzed statistically and results were obtained. Epi-info 7 software was used and prevalence rates were calculated. Results: Approximately 22% of cases of abnormal movements were identified by AIMS criteria, whereas 64% of cases were identified by questionnaire criteria. Significantly more (42%) cases were picked up by questionnaire method over AIMS-criteria. Tremors of hands and feet were the most common abnormal involuntary movement seen in 54% of participants as per the questionnaire, and, they were seen mostly in patients on antipsychotics. Conclusions: Abnormal involuntary movements are common among psychiatric patients, more commonly in patients on antipsychotics. Many cases often go undiagnosed, which suggests that better assessment modalities should be adopted for appropriate detection and management besides standard scales like AIMS.