Association of subjective cognitive dysfunction with akathisia in patients receiving stable doses of risperidone or haloperidol.
OBJECTIVE
Antipsychotic-induced akathisia leads to poor compliance with medication and is still a source of concern in the treatment with antipsychotic drugs. Regarding clinical characteristics, the distinguishing features of akathisia in comparison with other extrapyramidal syndromes are prominent subjective symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to examine the subjective cognitive dysfunction associated with antipsychotic-induced akathisia.


METHODS
Sixty-seven outpatients with schizophrenia receiving stable doses of risperidone or haloperidol were evaluated for akathisia and other extrapyramidal side effects. Subjective cognitive dysfunction was comprehensively assessed using the Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire (FCQ). The severity of subjective cognitive deficits was compared between the groups with and without akathisia using analysis of covariance with relevant variables as covariates.


RESULTS
The akathisia group (n = 25) scored significantly higher on the total FCQ score than the non-akathisia group (n = 42) (P < 0.05). In phenomenological subscale scores, the akathisia group had significantly higher scores on various subscales, i.e. 'anxiety', 'disorder of selective attention', 'deterioration of discrimination', 'perceptual disorder' and 'disorder of coping responses' than the non-akathisia group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that akathisia is significantly associated with a variety of subjective cognitive-perceptual deficits. Early therapeutic interventions for akathisia should be performed considering its significant association with the subjective cognitive dysfunction and the impairment of coping responses.
Kim
Jong-Hoon
JH
Department of Psychiatry, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea. jhnp@chol.com
Byun
Hee-Jung
HJ
D000328:Adult; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone