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Rtl!ersible tardive dyskinesia (TO) outcomes have been rrported in long-term neuroleptic (NL)-treated patients. I" this study the course of TO outcomes was followed-up F 3 years in a population of 125 institutionalized schizophrenic patients (mean age 57.8 years) receiving continuous NL treatment. Tardive dyskinesia occurrence I1Ui severity were assessed by means of the Rockland Simpson Scale (RSS). The prevalence of TO rose from 39.2% at the first examination to 52.8% at last follow-up aamination; however, 28.6% of TO-affected patients rtCOVered and 30% improved. Significant risk factors for a persistent TO outcome result included age over 56 years, duration of illness over 30 years, and a total RSS score over 22. Cumulative NL exposure, over 3550 g of chloropromazine equivalents, was also a significant risk factor for TO. Results from this study confirm that there is the possibility of improvement and remission in an aged, long-term institutionalized population of TO patients. In this report we point out prognostic factors for positive outcome. INeuropsychopharmacology

The aim of this study was to evaluate tardive dyskinesia (TD) (prevalence and possible risk factors, pharmacological and clinical), in a population of schizophrenic patients after prolonged institutionalization. A total of 148 patients (80 male, 68 female) aged between 28 and 87 years (mean 55, SD 11) diagnosed according to DSM III were included in the study and assessed for the presence and severity of TD using the Abbreviated Rockland Simpson Scale for TD. Of the examined population, 32% were found to be affected by TD. Patients over 55 years had a relative risk of TD that was 2.3 times higher than in subjects under 55 (P less than 0.05). The most frequent movements were orofacial (60%) and in the extremities (56.4%). No significant relationship between duration of neuroleptic treatments, illness or hospitalization, anticholinergic drugs and TD prevalence was found. Severity was related to age, since there was a positive linear relationship between age and Simpson Scale scores (r = 0.45, P less than 0.01).