Possible Involvement of Free Radicals in Neuroleptic‐Induced Movement Disorders Evidence from Treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia with Vitamin E

Defined phenomenologically, tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a sign complex characterized by certain types of abnormal movements that are secondary to prolonged use of neuroleptic drugs.’-5 In recent years, TD has acquired greater importance to practitioners because of its occurrence in almost epidemic proportion and the evidence that its prevalence may be increasing?.4 TD was originally described as a “dyskinesie facio-bucco-lingui-masticatrice” (BLM or orofacial syndrome).* The concept has evolved to include nonrepetitive choreic and choreoathetoid movements of fingers, hands, and feet. It also includes choreoathetoid movements of the legs and trunk. Tardive dystonia6 and tardive akathisia’ may also be related to the TD complex. Tardive dyskinesia must be differentiated from other neurological disorders such as Huntington’s chorea, Sydenham’s chorea, drug-induced chorea, levodopa-induced dyskinesias, and the idiopathic and symptomatic dystonias. History of chronic use of neuroleptics is necessary before a diagnosis of TD can be made.