A controlled community study of movement disorder in people with learning difficulties on anti-psychotic medication.

The results of a community-based study measuring the occurrence of movement disorders in a population of people with learning difficulties treated with antipsychotic medication are presented. This group was compared with an age- and sex-matched group with a similar degree of handicap, who were not treated with antipsychotic medication. When medication was given within British National Formulary Guidelines, no significant increase in movement disorders in the treated group was found. The relevance of this to psychiatric practice is discussed.