[Tardive dyskinesia. A possible complication of chronic treatment with neuroleptics]

Tardive dyskinesia consists of abnormal involuntary movements at the oro-facial area (mouth, tongue, maxillary) or generalized choreoathetotic disorders of the limbs and trunk occurring in at least 10-20% of chronically neuropsychiatric patients exposed to neuroleptics. Age (over 50), gender (female), affective disorders, individual predisposition, type of drug, dosage and duration of neuroleptic exposure (over 3 months), anticholinergics, appear to be risk factors. In this brief review some current pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical therapeutical trials are also discussed.