ANTIPSYCHOTIC-DRUGS AND TARDIVE-DYSKINESIA - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS IN AN ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC-WARD

The systematic study of antipsychotic-induced movement disorders in yo ung psychiatric patients is very sparse. We assessed the presence of t ardive dyskinesia in an adolescent in-patient psychiatric ward. Eighte en per cent (3/17) exhibited either pronounced or subtle signs of tard ive dyskinesia. Our study suggests that young psychiatric patients may develop signs of tardive dyskinesia even though they are exposed to r elatively short-term neuroleptic treatment and at dosages that are rel atively low. We advocate frequent and systematic monitoring of adolesc ent patients taking antipsychotic drugs in order to minimize the emerg ence of this long-term, troublesome complication of neuroleptic drugs.