Drug-induced akathisia: subjective experience and objective findings

Drug-induced akathisia, especially antidepressant-induced akathisia, is a concern for mental health professionals of all disciplines, especially since the introduction of the so-called third-generation antidepressants such as fluoxetine. Failure to identify and treat this disorder can result in extraordinary suffering for the patient, which can in turn lead to preoccupation with the idea of suicide, specifically by jumping. The goal of this paper is to provide clinicians with an understanding of the protean presentations of this disorder along with a discussion of the current theories of etiology and pathophysiology as well as a strategy for identification and treatment.