Facial dyskinesia: a 16-year follow-up study

Article Abstract:

Tardive dyskinesia (TD), a movement disorder which can include involuntary movements such as twisting, turning or writhing, is a late-onset disorder that occurs months or years after beginning treatment with antipsychotic (neuroleptic) medications which block dopamine activity in the brain. The precise basis of the disorder is unclear, but most researchers feel that TD involves an imbalance of neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine and acetylcholine). Older patients tend to have facial dyskinesia, which is characterized by facial tics, grimacing and blinking. In 1965, a prevalence survey of facial dyskinesia was carried out. The data from that survey provided the base for a follow-up study in 1981, which was limited to surviving female patients. In 1965 there had been 484 female patients; in 1981, only 109 were living. Ten of these women were excluded from follow-up study because they were diagnosed with organic brain syndrome. Analysis of the data revealed that the prevalence of TD rose from 18.4 percent to 46.5 percent over the 16-year period. The development of TD was found to be significantly related to high neuroleptic dosage. Brain scans revealed that enlarged brain ventricles (cavities) were significantly associated with TD, thought disorder and high neuroleptic dosage. Eight of the patients had never received neuroleptics, and all eight were free of dyskinesia in 1965. By 1981, only one of the eight had developed mild TD. The lowest prevalence of TD in the follow-up group was among schizophrenic patients. Patients with affective (mood) disorders (e.g., those diagnosed with schizoaffective and depressive disorders) demonstrated a higher prevalence. TD was also associated with reduced life-expectancy. All the women with severe TD in 1965 had died by 1981. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Affective disorders, Mood disorders

---

Negative symptoms, tardive dyskinesia and depression in chronic schizophrenia

Article Abstract:

Two studies investigated relationships between the negative symptoms of schizophrenia (e.g., flattened emotions and poverty of speech), depression, and tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder associated with the long-term use of antipsychotic medication). In the first study 222 long-term, nongeriatric schizophrenic patients were administered tests to assess depressive disorder. Depression was found in 25 (13 percent) of the patients who were then matched for sex, age, and illness chronicity with 25 patients (controls) rated as nondepressed. Both groups were reassessed for depression and given tests to evaluate negative symptoms and tardive dyskinesia at one-week and three-month follow-up sessions. No significant differences were found between depressed and nondepressed groups on tardive dyskinesia and negative symptom ratings. In the second study, 56 long-term schizophrenic patients took tests to measure negative symptoms, tardive dyskinesia, depression and akathisia (motor restlessness). Thirty-seven patients were found to have orofacial dyskinesia (bizarre face, tongue and neck movements). The presence of orofacial dyskinesia was significantly related to illness chronicity and four negative symptoms: emotional flattening, poverty of speech, psychomotor retardation, and aphasia (difficulty communicating). The average age for the onset of dyskinesia among patients with negative symptoms was 46 years, while the average age of onset for patients without negative symptoms was 59 years. Findings suggest a causal link in the pathology of negative symptoms and abnormal movements and indicate that depression and negative symptoms are unrelated clinical syndromes. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Risk factors, Physiological aspects, Depression, Mental, Psychiatric disability evaluation

---

Syndromes of chronic schizophrenia

Article Abstract:

In order to substantiate earlier findings of three major syndromes in schizophrenia, 57 schizophrenic patients were evaluated. The patients (33 men and 24 women aged 34 to 80 years; average age 58.6 years) had been mentally ill for an average of 30.5 years. Fifty-four of the patients were taking neuroleptic (antipsychotic) medication. The patients were given a battery of scales and tests to assess symptoms, history, thought disorders, delusions, hallucinations, speech patterns and Parkinsonism (neuroleptic-induced tremor, muscular rigidity and slow movements). Factor analysis confirmed the finding of three major and distinguishable schizophrenic syndromes. The first and most prevalent was a 'psychomotor poverty syndrome,' which included flat or unchanging facial expressions, decreased spontaneous movements, poverty of speech, poor eye contact and poverty of mood and expressive gestures. The second was a 'disorganization syndrome,' which included poverty of content of speech, speech incoherence and inappropriate emotions and mood. The third was a 'reality distortion syndrome,' which included hallucinations and delusions. There were no strong relationships found between syndrome severity, amount of antipsychotic medication, and age at onset of illness. However, high ratings in the psychomotor poverty syndrome were found to be significantly related to longer illness duration. Conversely, high scores in reality distortion tended slightly to be associated with shorter illness duration. The disorganization syndrome showed no relationship with length of illness. No significant relationships were found between syndrome scores and severity of Parkinsonism. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The association of cyclosporine with the 1-year costs of cadaver-donor kidney transplants. The effect of cyclosporine on the use of hospital resources for kidney transplantation
• Abstracts: Prenatal screening for Down's syndrome with maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin levels. Triple marker (alpha-fetoprotein, unconjugated estriol, human chorionic gonadotropin) versus alpha-fetoprotein plus free-beta subunit in second-trimester maternal serum screening for fetal Down syndrome: a prospective comparison study
• Abstracts: Papanicolaou smear screening interval and risk of cervical cancer. Screening for cervical cancer in emergency centers and sexually transmitted disease clinics
• Abstracts: Nasogastric feeding at home: acceptability and safety. Crohn's disease of the lung. Egg and breast milk based nitrogen sources compared
• Abstracts: Importance of local versus systemic effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in increasing small intestinal permeability in man

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.