Akathisia--diagnostic dilemma and behavioral treatment.
Akathisia, an involuntary movement disorder resulting from exposure to antipsychotics, is characterized by subjective restlessness and a strong desire to move about. The diagnosis is often complicated by the overlapping symptoms of pseudoakathisia, chronic akathisia and tardive dyskinesia. This report deals with a patient with schizophrenia who developed akathisia after exposure to antipsychotics. Later, she developed movements that were more like pseudoakathisia and tardive dyskinesia rather than acute akathisia. On failure of anti-akathisia medication, she was treated with a behavioral regime to which her akathisia responded. This behavioral regime used the technique of distraction as a primary tool. This case report highlights the diagnostic difficulties in akathisia and the application of behavioral treatment for akathisia that is non-responsive to anti-akathisia medication.
Mattoo
S K
SK
Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160-012, India.
Singh
G
G
Vikas
A
A
D000328:Adult; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents