BMJ 1999;319:623-626 ( 4 September )

Clinical review

Fortnightly review

Acute dystonia induced by drug treatment

Peter N van Harten, director, psychiatric residency programme ^a,  Hans W Hoek, associate professor ^b,  Rene S Kahn, chairman ^c. 

^a Psychiatric Center Zon and Schild, Utrechtseweg 266, 3800 DB Amersfoort, Netherlands, ^b Parnassia/Leiden University, Albardastraat 100, 2555 VZ The Hague, Netherlands, ^c Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, Netherlands

Correspondence to: P N van Harten zonenschild.a-opl@wxs.nl

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Acute dystonia induced by drug treatment can be a side effect of treatment with antipsychotic drugs and other drugs, and it may occur at an early stage of treatment. ^{1 2} Acute dystonia is often frightening and may seriously disturb the relationship between the doctor and the patient. Therefore, every doctor who prescribes dopamine blocking agents should be familiar with the prevalence of and the risk factors for acute dystonia and should know how to prevent and treat the condition.

Table Removed (Available Only in the Full Text)

	Methods

We searched Medline and Embase for the period 1980-98 using the key terms extrapyramidal syndromes, dyskinesia, dystonia, movement disorders, side effects, and antipsychotics, and we checked the reference lists of the articles that we identified. This information supplemented our own research into extrapyramidal side effects induced by antipsychotic drugs.^3-5

	Prevalence and risk factors

Acute dystonia induced by antipsychotic drugs is described as "sustained abnormal postures or muscle spasms that develop within seven days of starting or rapidly . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Duggal, H. S. (2008). Acute Pisa Syndrome and Pharnygolaryngeal Dystonia Due to Ziprasidone. J. Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosi. 20: 108-109 [Full text]  
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