Tremor and tardive dyskinesia.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Movement Disorders

Background:

• Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder often associated with antipsychotic medication.
• Parkinsonian tremor can co-occur with TD, complicating diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of parkinson-like tremor in patients diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia.
• To explore potential risk factors and affected body areas for this tremor.
• To report on the impact of medication adjustments on tremor and TD symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 232 patients with a tardive dyskinesia diagnosis.
• Analysis of demographic and clinical data to identify risk factors.
• Observation of tremor characteristics and response to medication changes.

Main Results:

• 10% of patients with tardive dyskinesia exhibited parkinson-like tremor.
• No specific demographic or clinical risk factors were identified for the tremor.
• Tremor location, particularly outside the wrist, presented diagnostic challenges.
• Medication dose alterations influenced tremor and tardive dyskinesia symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Parkinson-like tremor is a notable comorbidity in tardive dyskinesia patients.
• Accurate differential diagnosis is essential, especially when tremor affects areas beyond the wrist.
• Management strategies should consider medication adjustments to address both tremor and tardive dyskinesia.