Choreoathetoid movements in cocaine dependence

Background: To evaluate the severity of choreoathetoid movements in cocaine dependent (CD) subjects and age-matched normal control subjects, Methods: Choreoathetoid movements were evaluated using the Abnormal Involun tary Movement Scale (AIMS) in samples of 71 CD, 56 normal control, and 9 am phetamine-dependent male subjects. Results: The CD subjects had a significantly increased nonfacial (limbs plu s body) AIMS subscore, When the nonfacial AIMS scores of the two groups wer e compared in relation to age, a significant age by diagnosis interaction w as observed, indicating that the differences between groups were most marke d in the younger age groups. The facial AIMS scores were also increased but only in the youngest CD cohort (under 32 years of age). The comparison gro up of 9 younger amphetamine-dependent subjects also showed increased AIMS s cores. Conclusions: Increases in choreoathetoid movements in younger cocaine and a mphetamine-dependent subjects may be related to their psychostimulant use. The absence of differences in choreoathetoid movements between the older CD subjects and normal control subjects may represent art age-related self-se lection effect. (C) 1999 Society of Biological Psychiatry.