Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Akathisia. When treatment creates a problem.

A Dauner1, D T Blair

  • 1Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center, Topeka, Kansas.

Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
|October 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Education as psychiatric intervention: the cognitive-behavioral context.

Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services·1998
Same author

Integration and synthesis. Cognitive behavioral therapies within the biological paradigm.

Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services·1996
Same author

Understanding vicarious traumatization.

Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services·1996
Same author

The placebogenic phenomenon: art in psychiatric nursing.

Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services·1996
Same author

The undertreatment of anxiety: overcoming the confusion and stigma.

Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services·1996
Same author

Psychopharmacologic treatment of anxiety.

Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services·1994

Akathisia, a condition causing restlessness and agitation, is often misdiagnosed, leading to incorrect treatment. Early recognition through clinical observation and patient reports is crucial for proper management of this antipsychotic side effect.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Akathisia is a complex extrapyramidal side effect characterized by profound restlessness and motor agitation.
  • It is frequently misdiagnosed as worsening psychiatric symptoms or anxiety, complicating patient care.

Observation:

  • Clinical observation reveals akathisia through subjective inner tension and objective motor restlessness.
  • Symptoms often exacerbate with increased antipsychotic dosage or PRN medication use.

Findings:

  • Misdiagnosis leads to inappropriate antipsychotic dose escalation or anxiolytic misuse, worsening akathisia.
  • Accurate diagnosis requires integrating patient self-report with behavioral observation.

Implications:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Improved recognition of akathisia is vital for appropriate treatment adjustments in patients on antipsychotics.
  • Distinguishing akathisia from primary psychiatric agitation is essential for effective therapeutic strategies.