title: Gabapentin in antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesia: results of 1-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a previous study, improvement of antipsychotic-induced blefarospasm and involuntary oral-mandibulo movements were observed with the use of the anticonvulsant drug gabapentin among affectively ill patients who had been exposed to maintenance neuroleptics. The results reported in the present paper represent the sequel to the previous study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The purported efficacy of gabapentin in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia has been assessed in an open design 1-year follow-up study, in which 30 schizoaffective, bipolar I and schizophrenic patients from seven Italian centres were evaluated by means of AIMS. The results showed a statistically significant time-related decrease in AIMS scores. The mean percentage of improvement at AIMS was 47.5+/-18.2%. An improvement of more than 35% after 1 year in 76% of the subjects who completed the trial (n=25) and in 63.3% of the entire sample admitted to the study was revealed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The introduction of new antipsychotic drugs has probably already limited the problems related to tardive dyskinesia. However, this type of side-effect is also observed during the course of treatment with atypical neuroleptics albeit with a lesser frequency. The fact that gabapentin treatment may have further improved clinical conditions of patients in whom therapeutic protocols had already been modified, appears to suggest exertion of a possible synergic action by the new neuroleptics on tardive dyskinesia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health, University of Cagliari, Via Liguria 13, 09127, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hardoy
authors.forename: Mauro Giovanni
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carpiniello
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cianchetti
authors.forename: Socrate
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Congia
authors.forename: Immacolata
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: D'Errico
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emanuelli
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garonna
authors.forename: Maria Julieta
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hardoy
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nardini
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin