Is akathisia associated with poor clinical response to antipsychotics during acute hospital treatment?

Previous studies have suggested that akathisia is associated with poor acute clinical response to antipsychotics and that low serum iron levels are associated with emergence of akathisia. To examine these relationships during routine clinical treatment, we studied patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder undergoing hospital treatment for acute psychotic exacerbations with doctor's choice medications. There were 34 subjects observed for at least 2 weeks. They were assessed at baseline and weekly by one rater with the Anchored Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and by another rater with the Barnes Rating Scale for akathisia, with the two raters blind to each other's ratings. Serum ferritin and transferrin levels were obtained at baseline. Seventeen subjects developed akathisia. Subjects with and without akathisia did not differ in change in thinking disturbance or anxiety-depression scores over 2 weeks, or in serum ferritin or transferrin levels. We conclude that mild akathisia by itself is not strongly associated with initial response to low to moderate doses of antipsychotics in the acute clinical setting. Limitations of the study are discussed.