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Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
Tardive dyskinesia: special risk in the elderly
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|February 1, 1983
Summary
Tardive dyskinesia is a serious public health concern, especially in the elderly. Due to limited treatment options and high susceptibility, avoiding neuroleptics in older adults is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a significant public health issue.
- Elderly individuals exhibit heightened susceptibility to neuroleptic-induced TD.
- Effective treatments for established TD are currently lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the risks of neuroleptic use in the elderly.
- To emphasize the need for caution when prescribing neuroleptics to geriatric patients.
- To advocate for the avoidance of neuroleptics in the elderly when feasible.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on TD in the elderly.
- Analysis of neuroleptic susceptibility in geriatric populations.
- Assessment of current treatment efficacy for TD.
Main Results:
- Elderly patients are disproportionately affected by tardive dyskinesia.
- Neuroleptic medications pose a considerable risk for developing TD in older adults.
- The absence of highly effective treatments exacerbates the problem.
Conclusions:
- Neuroleptic medications should be used with extreme caution in elderly patients.
- Avoiding neuroleptics whenever possible is the most prudent approach for geriatric patients.
- Preventing TD through judicious prescribing is critical for public health in aging populations.
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