ABNORMAL MOVEMENTS IN NEVER-MEDICATED INDIAN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Background. Historical records suggest dyskinesia was observed in seve rely ill institutionalised patients with schizophrenia in the pre-neur oleptic era. More recent work has not found dyskinesia in never-medica ted younger and middle aged patients. The present study complements th is recent work and avoids the confounders of severity of illness and i nstitutionalism by examining elderly patients in a wide variety of com munity settings. Method. Movement disorders were examined in 308 elder ly individuals in Madras, India, using the Abnormal Involuntary Moveme nts Scale, the Simpson and Angus Parkinsonism Scale and the Barnes Aka thisia Scale. Patients' mental state was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Results. Dyskinesia was found in 15% of norma l subjects (n=101, mean age 63 years), 15% of first degree blood relat ives of younger schizophrenic patients (n=103, mean age 63 years), 38% of never medicated patients (n=21, mean age 65 years) and 41% of medi cated patients (n=83, mean age 57 years). The respective prevalences f or Parkinsonism were 6%, 11%, 24% and 36%; and for akathisia 9%, 5%, 2 1% and 23%. Dyskinesia was associated with negative schizophrenic symp toms. Conclusions. Dyskinesia in elderly schizophrenic patients is an integral part of the illness and not associated with antipsychotic med ication.