Course Summary

Antipsychotic drug-induced movement disorders can lead to physically disabling and uncomfortable symptoms for patients, and may precipitate behavioral dysregulation and noncompliance with antipsychotic medication management of a mental illness. Motor movement abnormalities may not always be recognized by patients, families and clinicians, and may be underreported. Symptoms may vary, and the change in a patient’s appearance can be particularly troubling to the patient and family or friends. Motor movement disorders associated with antipsychotic drug use can also be stigmatizing. To determine the presence and severity of a motor disorder caused by the use of an antipsychotic drug, rating scales are available for clinicians to use. Symptoms must be carefully evaluated in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs, and patients need to be educated to recognize the potential risks and symptoms. Evaluation of commonly diagnosed movement disorders and treatment strategies are discussed.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• I.              Introduction
• II.           Overview of Extrapyramidal Symptoms
  • 1.   Drug-induced Akathisia
  • 2.   Cause and Incidence
  • 3.   Characteristics: Signs and Symptoms
  • 4.   Clinical Outcomes
  • 5.   Risk Factors
  • 6.   Diagnosis
  • 7.   Treatment
• III.         Drug-induced Dystonia
  • 1.   Cause and Incidence
  • 2.   Characteristics: Signs and Symptoms
  • 3.   Risk Factors
  • 4.   Clinical Outcomes
  • 5.   Diagnosis
  • 6.   Treatment
• IV.          Drug-induced Parkinsonism
  • 1.   Cause and Incidence
  • 2.   Characteristics: Signs and Symptoms
  • 3.   Risk Factors
  • 4.   Clinical Outcomes
  • 5.   Diagnosis
  • 6.   Treatment
• V.            Antipsychotic Drug-induced Tardive Dyskinesia
  • 1.   Cause and Incidence
  • 2.   Characteristics: Signs and Symptoms
  • 3.   Clinical Outcomes
  • 4.   Risk Factors
  • 5.   Diagnosis
  • 6.   Treatment
• VI.          Case-Study: Risperidone-induced EPS
  • 1.   Discussion
• VII.       Summary

Author

Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI

Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.