title: The epidemiology of drug-induced akathisia: Part I. Acute akathisia.
abstract: This article reviews the epidemiological data on drug-induced acute akathisia, examining studies in which akathisia was the primary focus as well as those in which it was one of a number of drug side effects studied. The studies are diverse in methodology and suffer from many limitations. Incidence rates for acute akathisia with conventional neuroleptics vary from 8 to 76 percent, with 20 to 30 percent being a conservative estimate; preliminary evidence suggests that the newer atypical antipsychotic drugs are less likely to produce acute akathisia. A number of nonneuroleptic drugs--in particular the serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors--have been implicated in the development of akathisia, but the epidemiological data are limited. Risk factors for neuroleptic-induced akathisia are not completely understood. Drug dose, rate of increment of dose, and drug potency seem to be important, but the role of sociodemographic factors and other treatment-related variables is modest. Drug-induced parkinsonism is significantly correlated with akathisia. Evidence for iron deficiency as a risk factor is conflicting, and its contribution is likely to be minor.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents