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Tardive dyskinesia in elderly patients: an update
1Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Brown University, and Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. rjgoldberg@lifespan.org
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
|June 17, 2003
Summary
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious side effect of antipsychotic medications, especially in older adults. Novel antipsychotics may offer a safer alternative for elderly patients, reducing the risk of these debilitating movement disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Gerontology
Background:
- Antipsychotic medications are crucial for treating schizophrenia and severe behavioral disorders.
- Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and tardive dyskinesia (TD) are significant side effects limiting antipsychotic use.
- Older age is a major risk factor for developing TD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the relationship between aging and tardive dyskinesia (TD).
- To discuss the efficacy and safety of novel antipsychotics in elderly patients.
- To explore treatment strategies for TD in the geriatric population.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on antipsychotics, EPS, and TD.
- Analysis of clinical trial data focusing on elderly populations.
- Synthesis of current understanding of TD risk factors and management.
Main Results:
- Older age is strongly associated with an increased risk of developing TD.
- Novel antipsychotics demonstrate a reduced risk of EPS and TD compared to older agents.
- Emerging data suggest potential efficacy and safety of novel antipsychotics in the elderly.
Conclusions:
- TD remains a significant concern in antipsychotic treatment, particularly for elderly individuals.
- Novel antipsychotics represent a promising advancement in managing psychiatric disorders with a lower risk profile for movement disorders.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the long-term safety and efficacy of novel antipsychotics in the aging population.