Tardive dyskinesia in psychogeriatric patients: a five-year follow-up.

The neurologic side effects of antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of major psychiatric disorders are causing great concern. The status of tardive dyskinesia in 13 elderly psychiatric patients at the 5-year follow-up point, is reported. In 11 of the 13, tardive dyskinesia persisted. tamong these 11 patients, the severity was reduced in 2, increased in 2, and unchanged in 7. Only in 2 of the total 13 subjects had the tardive dyskinesia disappeared. However, both of these patients were receiving neuroleptic drugs and had parkinsonism, a syndrome that might have masked the dyskinesia. Recommendations are made for prophylaxis and for good clinical judgment in the use of antipsychotic drugs.