Tardive dyskinesia are a very frequent and dramatic side-effect of a l
ong-term treatment with neuroleptics. In this article the recent, some
times divergent results from the literature are reviewed with special
respect to epidemiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies. In
sum, the present data emerge that elder patients and schizophrenics wi
th cognitive impairment or negative symptoms have a higher risk to dev
elop tardive dyskinesia. The consequences for treatment regimens are d
iscussed.