Validity and clinical utility of a Sinhalese version of the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS)

A K A B Baminiwatta,T Gunesekara,K M N Perera,A Hapangama,T R Bandara,K A L A Kuruppuarachchi,M L Harshini

doi:10.4038/sljpsyc.v12i1.8281

Abstract

The Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry (SLJP) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal published bi annually by the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists.The Journal publishes original papers, brief reports including case reports and commentaries relevant to psychiatry and allied sciences. The Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry is committed to maintaining and conforming to the editorial and ethical standards recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.Cover“Perseverance”. These tenacious fishermen in Mannar continue their livelihood despite numerous difficulties. L. N. P. Samarasinghe, Acting Consultant Psychiatrist, Base Hospital Nikaweratiya, Sri Lanka.

Highlights

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder caused by long-term treatment with dopamine antagonists such as antipsychotics
The translated version was administered by five raters (two registrars in psychiatry, a medical officer, a community psychiatry nurse (CPN) and a psychiatric social worker) amongst patients treated with antipsychotic medication for a minimum of one year
Of the 137 patients screened (53.3% male; mean age = 49 years), the percentage of patients diagnosed with TD using Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 were 33% and 34%, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder caused by long-term treatment with dopamine antagonists such as antipsychotics. We propose that non-medical clinicians working in psychiatry can be trained and involved in a screening programme for TD. To facilitate such a programme, validation of a standard tool translated to Sinhala is a need. The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is designed to assess tardive dyskinesia (TD), a delayedonset iatrogenic movement disorder first described in 1964 by Faurbye [1,2,3,4]. TD has been defined as involuntary athetoid or choreiform movements developing in association with the use of a dopamine antagonist, such as an antipsychotic, for at least a few months [5]. Other tardive syndromes include tardive dystonia, tardive akathisia, tardive stereotypies and neuroleptic withdrawal emergent dyskinesia [8]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion