Methylphenidate in Tardive Dyskinesia
WILLIAM E. FANN M.D.1,
JOHN M. DAVIS M.D.2, , and
IAN C. WILSON M.D.3
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Duke University Medical Center, P.O. Box 3812, Durham, N.C. 27710, and Staff Psychiatrist, Veterans Administration Hospital, Durham
2 Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, Tenn.
3 Research Psychiatrist, Dorothea Dix Hospital, North Carolina State Department of Mental Health, Raleigh, N.C.
Methylphenidate, an amphetamine-like central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used successfully in reversing acute neuroleptic-induced neurological symptoms, was given in a placebo-controlled study to 17 patients with tardive dyskinesia. On global ratings three subjects were improved, six showed an increase in symptoms, and eight showed no changes. The authors conclude that methylphenidate is not effective in tardive dyskinesia and that the results of this study are in keeping with present knowledge about CNS pharmacology.
