NEUROLEPTIC-INDUCED PARKINSONISM - MRI FINDINGS IN RELATION TO CLINICAL COURSE AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF NEUROLEPTIC DRUGS

Parkinsonism is a common complication of neuroleptic drug use; however , the pathophysiology of the persistence of parkinsonian symptoms afte r withdrawal of neuroleptic drugs is poorly understood. Twenty patient s with neuroleptic induced parkinsonism were studied by high field MRI . Persistence of symptoms was associated with different findings depen ding on the age of the patients-namely, putaminal hypointensity in you ng patients and striatal hyperintensities in old patients. High field MRI may be useful in identifying patients at higher risk for neurolept ic induced parkinsonism.