DYSKINESIA IN MENTALLY-HANDICAPPED WOMEN - RELATIONSHIP TO LEVEL OF HANDICAP, AGE AND NEUROLEPTIC EXPOSURE

The prevalence of dyskinesia in a randomly selected set of 61 mentally handicapped women with a range of diagnoses, levels of IQ and exposur e to neuroleptics was assessed using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement s Scale (AIMS). Overall, 64% of patients had dyskinesia on the AIMS. T here was no correlation with neuroleptic exposure, although 43% of pat ients had been significantly exposed. There was no correlation between the presence of dyskinesia and the original handicapping diagnosis, a nd there was no increase in dyskinesia as the patients age increased. There was a significant increase in dyskinesia as IQ fell. This study backs the contention that there is a close association between cogniti ve impairment and movement disorder.