TARDIVE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Tardive psychopathology (TP) corresponds to mental changes from chroni c neuroleptic exposure, as tardive dyskinesia corresponds to induced m ovement disorders. TP was prospectively identified in 4 inpatients. Ea ch took neuroleptics more than 3 years, showed good premorbid adjustme nt or initiative, and met criteria for chronic schizophrenia. Each als o had obsessions or compulsions, and apathetic dysphoria, symptoms not previously attributed to TP. Following neuroleptic termination with i ntroduction of lithium and sertraline, each showed atypically rapid di sappearance of this psychopathology. The incidence of these features i s over 47% (p < 0.05). Some cases of apparent neuroleptic-resistant sc hizophrenia may be TP.