Abstract
ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of persistent drug-induced movement disorders namely, tardive dyskinesia (TD), parkinsonism, akathisia and tardive dystonia in a representative sample of long-stay patients with chronic severe mental illness.MethodNaturalistic study of 209, mainly white, antipsychotic-treated patients, mostly diagnosed with psychotic disorder. Of this group, the same rater examined 194 patients at least two times over a 4-year period, with a mean follow-up time of 1.1 years, with validated scales for TD, parkinsonism, akathisia, and tardive dystonia.ResultsThe frequencies of persistent movement disorders in the sample were 28.4% for TD, 56.2% for parkinsonism, 4.6% for akathisia and 5.7% for tardive dystonia. Two-thirds of the participants displayed at least one type of persistent movement disorder.ConclusionsPersistent movement disorder continues to be the norm for long-stay patients with chronic mental illness and long-term antipsychotic treatment. Measures are required to remedy this situation.
Highlights
Antipsychotics remain the cornerstone of treatment in psychotic disorder
Antipsychotic-induced movement disorder constitutes a major reason for non-compliance, resulting in an increased risk of psychotic relapse [1,2,3]
Antipsychotic-induced movement disorders [7,8] can be divided in acute syndromes such as parkinsonism and akathisia, that occur within days or weeks after starting an antipsychotic, or after increasing the dose, and tardive syndromes, such as tardive dyskinesia (TD) and tardive dystonia, that develop after months or years of antipsychotic treatment
Summary
Antipsychotics remain the cornerstone of treatment in psychotic disorder. They may induce several side effects, one of which is movement disorder. Antipsychotic-induced movement disorder constitutes a major reason for non-compliance, resulting in an increased risk of psychotic relapse [1,2,3]. Antipsychotic-induced movement disorders [7,8] can be divided in acute syndromes such as parkinsonism and akathisia, that occur within days or weeks after starting an antipsychotic, or after increasing the dose, and tardive syndromes, such as TD and tardive dystonia, that develop after months or years of antipsychotic treatment. In patients on long-term treatment with antipsychotics, combinations of acute and tardive syndromes may occur
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