MOVEMENTS IN NEVER-MEDICATED SCHIZOPHRENICS - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Descriptions of schizophrenia dating to the beginning of this century include mention of abnormal movements which are similar to tardive dys kinesia (TD), currently thought to be sequelae of neuroleptic medicati on, In order to examine the extent to which such movements might appea r in the normal course of schizophrenia, we examined a sample of 22 ne ver-medicated DSM-III-R schizophrenics who presented for treatment at a psychiatric center in Casablanca, Morocco. Duration of illness in th is sample ranged from 1 to 10 years. Patients were assessed for choreo athetoid movements using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS ). Videotaped and live examinations were rated by the investigators. T hree patients (14%) met research diagnostic criteria for probable SD. Mild movements in one body part (AIMS = 2) were seen in an additional five (23%) patients. The movements were characteristic of TD, although their somatic distribution differed from previous studies. Total AIMS score increased with age and duration of illness (r = 0.64, P < 0.01) . These findings suggest that choreoathetoid movements may appear spon taneously in patients with schizophrenia.