Researchers of a study assessed the multifaceted impact of tardive dyskinesia (TD) on patients through an online survey that took place from April 2020 to June 2021. Participants, who were diagnosed with TD and associated conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder, evaluated the impact of TD on their physical, psychological, and social functioning using Likert scales. They also completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, providing insights into TD’s influence on their underlying psychiatric conditions.

The survey, with responses from 269 patients, revealed significant effects of TD across various domains of life. Patients reported average impact scores of 3.1 in the physical domain, 3.5 in psychological, and 3.2 in social aspects, with these impacts intensifying as TD symptoms worsened. Furthermore, TD led to 66.2% activity impairment, and among the employed respondents, there was a notable 29.1% absenteeism, 68.4% presenteeism, and 73.5% overall work impairment. Over one-third of patients either reduced or completely stopped their antipsychotic medications (48.4%) and ceased visiting clinicians for their primary psychiatric conditions (35.7%) due to TD. The study underscores TD’s considerable and complex burden on patients’ lives, extending beyond health to professional aspects, and highlights the challenges in managing the primary psychiatric conditions alongside TD.

Reference: Jain R, Ayyagari R, Goldschmidt D, Zhou M, Finkbeiner S, Leo S. Impact of Tardive Dyskinesia on Physical, Psychological, Social, and Professional Domains of Patient Lives: A Survey of Patients in the United States. J Clin Psychiatry. 2023;84(3):22m14694. doi: 10.4088/JCP.22m14694.