A long-term outcome study of tardive dyskinesia in patients on antipsychotic medication

We followed 28 patients with tardive dyskinesia (TD) (eight men and 20 women, mean age 55.1 years) for 11-12 years to elucidate the long-term outcome of TD. All the patients received their physicians' choice of therapy, mainly comprising antipsychotics. The severity of TD was assessed at 5 and 11-12 years after the baseline evaluation. TD did not disappear in any patient. The severity of TD was unchanged in 39.3%, and improved in 17.9% despite continuous treatment with low doses of antipsychotics (mean 221.4 mg chlorpromazine equivalent daily). TD fluctuated in 21.4% and worsened in only 21.4%. Outcome was not correlated with patient sex or age, duration of primary illness, dosage of antipsychotics, or changes in dosage. The initial severity of TD showed some relationship to outcome. The number of bodily areas affected by TD increased in some patients with unchanged TD severity.