Is akathisia a forerunner of tardive dyskinesia? A clinical report with brief review of literature.

k bipolar manic-depressive patient, developed while on lithium prophylaxis, akathisia at therapeutic serum lithium levels and subsequently bucco-linguo-masticatory dyskinesia. The authors propose that differential involvement of dopamine systems may account for the transition from akathisia to tardive dyskinesia. In the light of a brief review of literature, a prospective study of akathisia and tardive dyskinesia seems justified.