Assesment of Risk Factors for Tardive Dyskinesia

Aim of the study is to evaluate sociodemographic and clinical features that may be associated with the development of Tardive dyskinesia (TD).

80 patients attending an outpatient psychiatry clinic in Istanbul, Turkey were divided into TD (n = 50) and control groups (CG) (n = 30). Sociodemographic and clinical data was collected through face-to-face interviews and a retrospective search of medical records.

There was a significant difference between TD and control group (CG) in terms of mean; onset of psychiatric disease at or after 35 years of age; first use of APD at or after 35 years of age; use of long-acting injectable APD; history of extrapyramidal side-effects; history of akathisia and family history of psychiatric disease. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of DSM- IV-based psychiatric diagnosis distributions, the existence of complete recovery periods during the course of the disease; total duration of APD use for at least 10 years; APD holidays; regular APD use; history of ECT and smoking or alcohol and substance abuse/addiction.

Advancing age seemed to be the most significant risk factor in the development of TD. Clinicians need to be cautious about TD when prescribing APD for elderly patients.