The Prevalence of Tardive Dyskinesia In Patients With Schizophrenia Treated With Antipsychotics In Malaysia

BACKGROUND: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder that is associated with the prolonged use of antipsychotics. The prevalence of TD varies widely from 20% to 50% but often undetected in schizophrenia patients treated with antipsychotics.

AIM: This study is aimed at investigating the prevalence of TD among schizophrenia patients treated with antipsychotics and identifying the associated factors. This study also investigates the association of TD with personal and social functioning performance, and the severity of illness.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a teaching hospital in Malaysia. Patients were assessed using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI).

RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients were recruited in this study. The prevalence of TD was 35.9%. Older age (OR 4.079, p = 0.006), Chinese ethnicity (OR 4.486, p = 0.020), longer duration of schizophrenia and antipsychotic treatment (OR 5.312, p = 0.001 and OR 5.500, p = 0.002 respectively) were also significantly associated with TD. TD patients notably demonstrated severe impairments in the self-care domain (71.4%). The presence of TD is associated with more severe overall clinical impairment (53.6%).

CONCLUSION: TD remains a prevalent and concerning side effect of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia patients. There is a need for regular monitoring and the use of standardized assessment tools to detect TD.