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Neuroleptic-induced EPS of parkinsonism, akathisia, and TD did not contribute to the patients' all-cause mortality in this study. The association between TD and mortality merits further attention.

In 1994, all patients hospitalized in the Psychiatric University Hospital of Zurich and treated with regular neuroleptics (n = 200) were examined with regard to the prevalence of Parkinson syndrome, akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia. In 2003/04, the patients were traced and re-examined. Out of 200 patients, a total of 63 (31.5%) had died. The group of deceased patients was compared with the group of patients still alive with regard to several socio-demographic variables and the presence of extrapyramidal syndromes at the first examination. As it could have been expected, the patients who died were older and suffered more frequently from organic disorders; further, women were over-represented in this group. Neither group differed with regard to the presence of akathisia and tardive dyskinesia; however, Parkinson symptoms were found to be more pronounced in the deceased group. Thus, Parkinson syndrome due to neuroleptic treatment appears to be a possible risk factor contributing to a higher mortality amongst psychiatric patients.