Drug induced dyskinesia: a critical review

Abstract

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) has been reported to occur after the long term administration of neuroleptics. Its prevalence has been reported to vary from 0.5-56%. However, no clear relationship is established between a particular neuroleptic, its dosage and duration of administration and the diagnosis and occurrence of TD. Neuropathological investigations have not provided any definitive lessons. in addition, TD can be produced by a number of drugs of different chemical classes. Similarly, the evidence for dopaminergic hypersensitivity is equivocal. The only definitive feature seems to be an individual predisposition, the nature of which needs to be elucidated. Of course, basic to any future research into new insights regarding etiology, the fundamental problem of definition and identification based on the accepted definition are most essential. This solid foundation is necessary for the resolution of any conflicting results that may be reported in the future.