Neuroleptic associated tardive dyskinesias in young people with psychoses.

BACKGROUND Apart from ageing, the factors associated with vulnerability to the emergence of tardive dyskinesia are poorly defined. METHOD Risk factors associated with the presence of a chronic choreic or dystonic disorder were assessed in a cross-sectional comparison of anamnestic and clinical data in a homogeneous group of 64 young psychotic patients (under 40 years of age) on chronic low to moderate doses of neuroleptics. RESULTS Dyskinetic subjects presented more indirect indicators of occult brain damage, such as a perinatal event or traumatic brain injuries in infancy and early childhood; neurological examination showed more anomalies in dyskinetic patients than in nondyskinetics, with a higher prevalence of facial release reflexes. CONCLUSION These data may support the hypothesis that occult acquired brain damage is important in the genesis of this 'drug-induced' disorder.