Evolution of neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal syndromes under long-term neuroleptic treatment.
BACKGROUND
The long-term evolution of neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal syndromes (EPS) of Parkinsonism, akathisia and tardive dyskinesia (TD) is still a controversial issue worth exploring.


METHODS
A total of 200 inpatients on regular typical neuroleptics (NL) and/or clozapine were assessed in 1995 with regard to the prevalence of EPS. Altogether, 83 patients could be reassessed in 2003/04 (63 had died) using the same methods. Strict definitions of EPS were used. The complete account of NL therapy the patients were prescribed between 1995 and 2003/04 (including atypical NL other than clozapine) was considered.


RESULTS
The prevalences found in 1995 and 2003/04 were 17% and 29% for Parkinsonism, 14% and 14% for akathisia, and 24% and 13% for TD. There were considerable intra-individual fluctuations in EPS occurrence even when the overall prevalence rate remained the same. In intra-individual comparisons of EPS ratings on both assessments, there was a tendency for worsening of Parkinsonism to be associated with a current (2003/04) therapy with typical NL; worsening of akathisia was associated with a current therapy with atypical NL other than clozapine, amelioration of akathisia with a current therapy with clozapine; and, basically, there were no significant associations found between the changes in TD ratings and the long-term therapy with typical NL, clozapine, and other atypical NL, considering cumulative doses of all these drugs. In a multivariate analysis, there was a tendency for the long-term evolution of TD to depend on illness duration as the only variable.


CONCLUSIONS
There are intra-individual fluctuations in all EPS over longer time periods. The choice of current NL therapy has an impact on Parkinsonism and akathisia. The long-term evolution of TD appears independent of NL prescriptions.
University of Zurich, Department of Psychiatry, Burghölzli Hospital, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland. modestin@bli.unizh.ch
Jiri
J
Modestin
Marianne Vogt
MV
Wehrli
Patrik Lukas
PL
Stephan
Puspa
P
Agarwalla
D000328:Adult; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine