CLINICAL AND POLYGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORYDYSKINESIA

Respiratory dyskinesia is characterised by irregularity in rate, rhyth m and depth of breathing. This study reports on the clinical features of 11 patients with respiratory dyskinesia identified from a mental ho spital in Hong Kong, together with the results of the 24-hour polygrap hic recording of seven patients. Virtually all patients with respirato ry dyskinesia had tardive dyskinesia. However, the condition was misse d or misdiagnosed in all cases by the case psychiatrists. The respirat ory irregularity persisted for most of the day and only disappeared wh en patients took a prolonged rest or fell asleep. A standardised clini cal examination for respiratory dyskinesia is proposed.