Correlations between akathisia and residual psychopathology: a by-product of neuroleptic-induced dysphoria.
Patients developing neuroleptic-induced akathisia have been reported to show higher levels of psychopathology. We sought to replicate this finding and determine its symptom specificity. We confirmed a significant relationship between ratings of akathisia and total score on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) during both acute and maintenance neuroleptic treatment. Using stepwise regression models, BPRS anxious-depressive subscale scores were the strongest predictors of akathisia during both treatment conditions. Paranoid subscale scores predicted akathisia only during maintenance treatment. These results suggest that neuroleptic-induced dysphoria largely explains the relationship between akathisia and residual psychopathology during both acute and maintenance neuroleptic treatment.
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110.
J W
JW
Newcomer
L S
LS
Miller
W O
WO
Faustman
M W
MW
Wetzel
G P
GP
Vogler
J G
JG
Csernansky
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
D006220:Haloperidol