The prevention of tardive dyskinesia.

The publication of numerous articles on tardive dyskinesia has had little effect on the excessive use of neurolepic drugs in psychiatric populations. If current prescribing patterns are not drastically changed, larger numbers of patients will be afflicted by conspicuous, sometimes disabling neurological side effects. The risk of permanent neurological disorder can be minimized by monitoring side effects and systematically reducing drug doses in hospitals, outpatient centers, and private practice. However, one should not underestimate the difficulty in implementing such a program in facilities that rely heavily on chemotherapy.