Tardive Dyskinesia Creates Physical, Psychological, and Social Burden

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) negatively impacts patients’ physical functioning, mental well-being, and social activities—even in patients with self-assessed mild-to-moderate symptoms, according to recent research presented in a poster at Psych Congress in San Antonio, Texas.

Researchers aimed to assess the impact of TD on social, physical, and psychological domains of patients’ lives from both the patient and caregiver perspective.

“Findings from this study may inform the development of assessment tools to evaluate the holistic impact of TD,” Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, Psych Congress steering committee, associate professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas, et al wrote.

Impact of Tardive Dyskinesia on Caregivers Should Be Considered When Determining Treatment

Patients with TD (n=269) and their caregivers (n=162) in the United States completed online surveys to assess the experiences and concerns of patients. Surveys were developed using a targeted literature review and interviews with patients, caregivers, and clinicians. Respondents rated the impact of TD on the physical, psychological, and social areas of the patients’ life on a scale from ‘1’ (least impact) to ‘5’ (most impact). They also summarized the impact of TD on the treatment of their underlying mental health condition.

Impact of TD on Physical, Psychological, and Social Domains of Patients’ Life

• 75.1% of surveyed patients with TD reported their illness having a severe impact across all domains.

• 82.7% of surveyed caregivers reported a severe impact on patients across all domains.

• The greatest patient-reported physical impacts of TD were speaking, sleeping, and eating.

• The greatest patient-reported psychological impacts of TD were frustration and fear of being rejected.

• The greatest patient-reported social impacts of TD were concerns surrounding appearing on camera or in video conferences, taking public transportation, enjoying things they do for fun, and reactions from family, friends, employers, and other members of their community.

Impact of TD on Underlying Conditions

• 48.4% of respondents skipped doses of an antipsychotic medication or took less than instructed by their doctor.

• 39.3% completely stopped taking an antipsychotic medication.
• 35.7% stopped going to the doctor who was treating their underlying condition.

• 20.8% advised someone else not to take an antipsychotic medication.

“Better TD symptom control may reduce patient burden by reducing antipsychotic treatment disruptions and nonadherence,” researchersconcluded. “These results reinforce the need for health care providers to assess impact to patients when assessing TD movements."

Reference

Jain R, Ayyagari R, King S, et al. Impact of tardive dyskinesia on physical, psychological, and social aspects of patient lives: a survey of patients and caregivers in the United States. Poster presented at: Psych Congress; October 29-November 1, 2021.