Researchers of a recent study focused on developing and validating the Clinician’s Tardive Inventory (CTI) to address the limitations of current clinician-rated tardive dyskinesia (TD) symptom scales. This comprehensive tool evaluates abnormal movements in various body parts such as the eye, eyelid, face, tongue, mouth, jaw, limbs, and trunk. It also assesses complex movements and vocalizations. The frequency of symptoms is rated on a scale from 0 to 3, indicating a range from absent to constant. Additionally, the CTI measures functional impairments in areas like activities of daily living (ADL), social impairment, symptom distress, and physical harm, also rated on a 0-3 scale.

The reliability of the CTI was tested through interrater and test-retest reliability assessments. These assessments involved 45 video/vignettes for interrater reliability and 16 for test-retest reliability, reviewed by movement disorder specialists to ensure adequacy. The results demonstrated high interrater agreement across various categories, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for movement frequency and functional impairments indicating strong consistency (ICCs ranged from 0.76 to 0.92 for movement frequency and 0.82 to 0.92 for functional impairments). The test-retest reliability, assessed approximately 15 days later, also showed substantial agreement with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.66 to 0.87. These findings indicate that the CTI is a reliable instrument for assessing the signs and functional impacts of TD, warranting further validation studies.

Reference: Trosch RM, Comella CL, Caroff SN, et al. The Clinician’s Tardive Inventory (CTI): A New Clinical Tool for Documenting and Rating Tardive Dyskinesia. J Clin Psychiatry. 2024;85(1):23m14886. doi: 10.4088/JCP.23m14886.