Tardive dyskinesia syndromes: current concepts

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Tardive syndromes (TS) are movement disorders caused by dopamine receptor blocking agents.
• Chronic exposure to these agents, particularly antipsychotics, leads to a spectrum of abnormal movements.
• Atypical antipsychotics were anticipated to decrease TS incidence due to their receptor binding profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated review of tardive syndromes (TS).
• To cover phenomenology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, genetics, and therapeutics of TS.
• To highlight the role and impact of atypical antipsychotics on TS.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of recent studies on TS.
• Analysis of data concerning atypical antipsychotics and their effect on TS prevalence.
• Examination of emerging insights into TS pathophysiology and genetic correlations.

Main Results:

• Atypical antipsychotics have shown a more modest reduction in TS prevalence than initially expected.
• TS remains a significant clinical challenge despite the use of newer antipsychotics.
• Newer insights into pathophysiology and genetics offer potential for individualized treatments.

Conclusions:

• TS continues to be an important iatrogenic problem in patients treated with antipsychotics.
• Further research into pathophysiology and genetic factors is crucial for developing effective, individualized treatments.
• Current treatment options for TS are varied, ranging from medication to surgical interventions, with no definitive cure yet established.