The coexistence of parkinsonism-like symptoms and tardive dyskinesia

The authors used the Simpson-Angus Neurological Rating Scale and the Simpson Abbreviated Dyskinesia Rating Scale to evaluate 132 psychiatric inpatients for the presence of parkinsonism-like symptoms and tardive dyskinesia, respectively. Ninety-four percent of these patients had been on a stable drug regimen for a minimum of 2 weeks before assessment; 91% were being treated with neuroleptics, 42% with antiparkinson agents, and 7% with tricyclic antidepressants. Tardive dyskinesia and parkinsonism-like symptoms coexisted in 17.4% of the 132 patients. Such coexistence poses a therapeutic dilemma for the clinician because drug treatment of improve one neurological condition may exacerbate the other.