Objective: To determine whether acute neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism and akathisia were risk factors for the later development of tardive dyskinesia (TD) in patients on typical neuroleptics.
Method: Of 100 subjects examined for parkinsonism and akathisia after the initiation of typical neuroleptic medication, 78 were followed up for TD after a mean 41.2 months.
Results: Nine (11.5%) subjects were diagnosed with TD, predominantly manifesting as oro-facial dyskinesia. They had greater severity of parkinsonism and akathisia at baseline, and a larger neuroleptic load, than those who did not develop TD. On regression analyses, parkinsonism at baseline was a significant predictor of later TD. Examined independently of parkinsonism, akathisia severity at 2 weeks was also a significant predictor of later TD.
Conclusions: Acute drug-induced parkinsonism and akathisia are both predictors of TD, with parkinsonism having greater predictive value. Acute and tardive extrapyramidal syndromes may share vulnerability factors.