Abnormal movements in never-medicated Indian patients with schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Historical records suggest dyskinesia was observed in severely ill institutionalised patients with schizophrenia in the pre-neuroleptic era. More recent work has not found dyskinesia in never-medicated younger and middle aged patients. The present study complements this recent work and avoids the confounders of severity of illness and institutionalism by examining elderly patients in a wide variety of community settings.


METHODS
Movement disorders were examined in 308 elderly individuals in Madras, India, using the Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale, the Simpson and Angus Parkinsonism Scale and the Barnes Akathisia Scale. Patients' mental state was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.


RESULTS
Dyskinesia was found in 15% of normal subjects (n = 101, mean age 63 years), 15% of first degree blood relatives of younger schizophrenic patients (n = 103, mean age 63 years), 38% of never medicated patients (n = 21, mean age 65 years) and 41% of medicated patients (n = 83, mean age 57 years). The respective prevalences for Parkinsonism were 6%, 11%, 24% and 36%; and for akathisia 9%, 5%, 21% and 23%. Dyskinesia was associated with negative schizophrenic symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Dyskinesia in elderly schizophrenic patients is an integral part of the illness and not associated with antipsychotic medication.
McCreadie
R G
RG
Clinical Research, Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries.
Thara
R
R
Kamath
S
S
Padmavathy
R
R
Latha
S
S
Mathrubootham
N
N
Menon
M S
MS
D000368:Aged; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents