Public health concern over tardive dyskinesia has been rising, but the
magnitude of the problem has been undetermined. The incidence of tardive
dyskinesia is unknown, and prevalence rates yield conflicting and possibly
misleading estimates. The natural course of tardive dyskinesia is highly
variable: in some patients (probably many fewer than previously believed)
it is irreversible. No currently available therapeutic agent satisfies the
criteria of safety, marked effectiveness, and prolonged efficacy in the
treatment of tardive dyskinesia. Primary prevention involves reducing
antipsychotic drug exposure, secondary prevention involves early diagnosis
and prompt intervention, and tertiary prevention involves clinical measures
to reduce disability and to treat severe cases vigorously. Educational
methods that disseminate knowledge and influence prescribing habits need to
be identified and used more widely.Abstract Teaser