The authors conducted a two-part study of the effects of thioridazine
and withdrawal dyskinesias on the workshop performance of mentally retarded
young adults. In part 1, 80 mentally retarded subjects were divided into
five groups of 16 according to administration, discontinuation, or
nonadministration of thioridazine. The major finding was that thioridazine
can impair the workshop performance of mentally retarded individuals. In
part 2, 28 subjects were divided into four matched groups of 7 subjects
each whose thioridazine dose was abruptly or gradually discontinued and who
did or did not have withdrawal dyskinesias. Workshop performance declined
with the onset of the dyskinesias and improved as the dyskinesias
subsided.Abstract Teaser