Study Reveals Sex Differences in Cognitive Impairment Among Schizophrenia Patients With Tardive Dyskinesia
A recent study examined potential sex differences in cognitive performance among schizophrenia patients with tardive dyskinesia (TD).
Managing Tardive Dyskinesia: Alleviating Symptoms and Gaining Control Through Stress Reduction
Researchers of a recent study examined tardive dyskinesia (TD) and strategies individuals with TD can utilize to help reduce stress and maximize their ability to control their movements.
Addressing Prevalence of Tardive Dyskinesia in Long-Term Care Residents: Strategies for Improved Quality of Life and Effective Treatment
This course is designed for long-term care clinicians, including medical directors, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician associates, pharmacists, and psychiatrists, as well as other health professionals caring for older adults.
Understanding and Managing Extrapyramidal Effects Caused by Antipsychotic Medications
Researchers of a study explored the pathophysiology of extrapyramidal effects (EPS) caused by antipsychotic medications, including the delicate balance between therapeutic effects and extrapyramidal effects.
Researchers Evaluate the Physical, Psychological, and Social Burden of TD
In a poster presented at Psych Congress 2021 in San Antonio, Texas, researchers looked to evaluate the impact that tardive dyskinesia (TD) has on both patients and caregivers socially, physically, and psychologically. Through targeted literature and interviews with patients, clinicians, and caregivers, surveys were created to evaluate both experiences and concerns of patients. Approximately 75% of patients with TD who were surveyed and 82% of caregivers who were surveyed reported a severe impact on patients among all domains. Speaking, sleeping, and eating were the greatest physical impacts of TD that were reported by patients. The below article dives deeper into the results of this study, also stating the impact that TD has on underlying conditions based on the survey results.
Stress and its Impact on Tardive Dyskinesia
Research has shown that excessive involuntary movements from tardive dyskinesia (TD) can be worsened by an excessive amount of stress. Patients with TD often also experience stress, which can create an “unfortunate cycle.” It has been found that when patients with TD have found ways to manage or lessen their stress, they have experienced an improvement in quality of life and symptoms. This article offers evidence-based ways that can reduce stress and alleviate symptoms of TD including exercise, meditation, and sleep.
Panel Recommendations for Assessing Tardive Dyskinesia
A panel addresses the gap of knowledge for providers around the use of standardized measures to assess the functional impact of tardive dyskinesia (TD) in a routine clinical practice setting. Key points found include assessing social, physical, vocational, and psychological functioning to determine the impact that TD is having on a patient’s quality of life. These should be conducted at every patient visit, with also considering the experiences of the patient’s caregivers and family.
How to Identify and Manage Side Effects of Antipsychotics in Elderly Populations
In this paper, the frequent use of antipsychotics in facilities for the elderly is addressed, in addition to the increased cases of persistent drug-induced movement disorders in elderly patients. The elderly population are especially prone to falls and other quality of life issues as a result of these side effects. To combat this issue, recommendations for a prevention-based strategy are outlined, including a more limited use of the treatment. This includes the education of both patients and caregivers to recognize the early warning signs of drug-induced movement disorders.
Exploring the Prevalence of Tardive Dyskinesia Through Electronic Medical Records
Researchers aimed to establish the prevalence of tardive dyskinesia (TD) that is recognized by clinicians in a real-world therapeutic setting. To do this, data from electronic medical records were examined from a large community mental health center. Researchers focused on clinician-identified TD in patients who have been prescribe antipsychotics, and they looked at psychiatric provider meetings of 120,431 distinct adult and child patients from January 2013 to December 2017.
Their results showed that 50% of patients who were prescribed antipsychotics had Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) data reported in their medical records, with just 1% of the patients who had a positive AIMS recognizing TD. Testing with AIMS represented the greatest amount of all recognized TD in this set of patients; however, just one-third of the patients with reported positive AIMS had a clinical TD diagnosis that was recorded through the prescriber’s diagnostic impression list using billing code information. The researcher’s finding of just 1% of patients who were prescribed antipsychotics with TD is significantly lower than the known prevalence estimates of TD seen in prior research.
The researchers note the importance of identifying and treating TD with the newer availability of treatments that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Policies and procedures for TD assessments can be put in place to confirm more regular and accurate identification of TD among patients who are prescribed antipsychotics.
Possibly Reducing Patient Chances of Tardive Dyskinesia
This recent article from the National Organization for Tardive Dyskinesia discusses reducing tardive dyskinesia (TD) rates by protecting the brain while patients take antipsychotics, which is notable when treating those who are at highest risk of TD. One of the main hypotheses of why TD develops is the major role of oxidation, and it may play a part in the severity of the disorder. Antioxidant levels slowly start to decrease as age increases, which leaves neurons more vulnerable to damage. Rodent studies have shown brain protection and reduction of the incidence of TD when taking particular antioxidants along with antipsychotics. Multiple studies have looked into certain antioxidants reducing the risk of TD, but the article points out that many psychiatrists do not know the potential neuroprotective benefits of some antioxidants. If this becomes part of standard practice, the incidence of drug-induced brain damage and TD may considerably decrease.
