Relationship of neuroleptic-induced akathisia to drug-induced parkinsonism.
Akathisia refers to subjective inner restlessness and a feeling of the need to move. Its occurrence in association with Parkinson disease suggests a common underlying pathophysiological mechanism. We investigated the relationship of neuroleptic-induced akathisia to drug induced parkinsonism in a group of 123 neuroleptic-treated elderly chronic schizophrenic inpatients (mean age: 63.9 +/- 8.9 years). In addition, since neuroleptic-induced akathisia has been noted to be more common in females, we studied the severity of akathisia separately by gender. Akathisia was present in 40 patients (32.5%). We found no significant differences in the severity of akathisia between patients with and these without parkinsonism. Although a significantly larger proportion of females than males had akathisia, there were no significant differences in respect of parkinsonism. Our findings do not support a major role for the dopaminergic system in the pathophysiology of akathisia might be related to dysfunction of nondopaminergic systems.
Sandyk
R
R
Department of Psychiatry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY.
Kay
S R
SR
D000368:Aged; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000503:physiopathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents