A survey of tardive dyskinesia in psychiatric outpatients.

The authors found a high prevalence--43.4% of tardive dyskinesia in a sample of psychiatric outpatients, a population previously thought to be at nominal risk for development of this syndrome. There was no significant relationship between the presence of dyskinesia and age, sex, years of neuroleptic use, or various organic factors. The effects of dentures and of drug combinations are discussed, and it is noted that structured scales of dyskinesia and videotope recordings are important tools in diagnosing and following the course of dyskinesia.