Actigraphic monitoring (actigraphy) of circadian locomotor activity in schizophrenic patients with acute neuroleptic-induced akathisia

Background: Actigraphy is a quantitative method for measurement of motor ac tivity. In the present study we used actigraphy to examine diurnal variatio ns in locomotor activity of schizophrenic patients with neuroleptic-induced akathisia (NIA). Method: Thirty-two schizophrenic patients, 16 with NIA an d 16 without (DSM-IV criteria) underwent 24-h actigraphic monitoring. Clini cal assessments of NIA were conducted with Barnes Akathisia Scale (BAS) at 08:00, 12:00,:16:00 and 20:00, Sleep parameters (duration, latency, continu ity and efficacy) were assessed by actigraphy. Sleep quality was evaluated by a self-rated sleep questionnaire. Results: NIA patients demonstrated per sistent higher daytime motor activity from 11:30 to 14:15 and from 18:00 to 21:00 than controls. There were no differences between the groups in night time motor activity, confirming clinical observations that NIA tends to dis appear during sleep. Subject's sleep assessments were similar in the two gr oups. Conclusions: Actigraphy seems to be a reliable, non-invasive, method of measuring motor activity in patients with NIA. Its sensitivity and speci ficity as an objective quantitative diagnostic instrument in patients with NIA merits further investigation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.