Intermittent neuroleptic treatment and risk for tardive dyskinesia: Curaçao Extrapyramidal Syndromes Study III.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the association between three lifetime medication variables (cumulative amount of neuroleptics, number of interruptions in neuroleptic treatment, cumulative amount of anticholinergics) and the occurrence and severity of tardive dyskinesia.


METHODS
The study was conducted in the only psychiatric hospital of a well-defined catchment area (the Netherlands Antilles). For all patients who had a history of taking neuroleptics for at least 3 months and were currently using neuroleptics (N = 133, mean age = 51.5 years), the presence and severity of tardive dyskinesia were measured with the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale.


RESULTS
Of the three lifetime medication variables, only the number of neuroleptic interruptions was significantly related to tardive dyskinesia. The risk of tardive dyskinesia was three times as great for patients with more than two neuroleptic interruptions as for patients with two or fewer interruptions.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding supports the schizophrenia protocol of long-term neuroleptic treatment rather than targeted or intermittent neuroleptic treatment.
van Harten
P N
PN
Dr. David Ricardo Capriles Clinic, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. hartenp@knmg.nl
Hoek
H W
HW
Matroos
G E
GE
Koeter
M
M
Kahn
R S
RS
D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009427:Netherlands Antilles / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists