Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Sweet, R. A. Articles by Zubenko, G. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Sweet, R. A. Articles by Zubenko, G. S. Geriatric Psychiatry Dementias (General)

Determinants of SPontaneous Extrapyramidal Symptoms in Elderly Psychiatric Inpatients Diagnosed With Alzheimer's Disease, Major Depressive Disorder, or Psychotic Disorders

Received January 25, 1996; revised October 15, 1996; accepted December 12, 1996. From the Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Address correspondence to Dr. Sweet, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; e-mail: sweetra{at}msx.upmc.edu

Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) occur more frequently in dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) than in normal aging. Other late-life mental disorders, however, have also been associated with EPS. To examine whether EPS are increased in DAT patients relative to neuropsychiatric control subjects, the authors compared EPS in 127 neuroleptic-free elderly patients diagnosed with either DAT, major depressive disorder (MDD), or a psychotic disorder (SCHIZ/DELUS). They also examined whether depressive or psychotic symptoms were associated with EPS independently of diagnosis. Severity of parkinsonian rigidity was found to be independently associated with DAT. Rank order of rigidity was DAT>MDD> SCHIZ/DELUS. Bradykinesia, although not associated with diagnostic group, was positively correlated with withdrawn depression. These findings suggest that rigidity is associated with DAT independently of any concurrent psychotic or depressive process, whereas bradykinesia does not appear to be specific to DAT among late-life neuropsychiatric illnesses.

Key Words: Extrapyramidal Symptoms • Geriatric Neuropsychiatry • Alzheimer's Disease

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. S. Street, W. S. Clark, K. S. Gannon, J. L. Cummings, F. P. Bymaster, R. N. Tamura, S. J. Mitan, D. L. Kadam, T. M. Sanger, P. D. Feldman, et al. Olanzapine Treatment of Psychotic and Behavioral Symptoms in Patients With Alzheimer Disease in Nursing Care Facilities: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Arch Gen Psychiatry, October 1, 2000; 57(10): 968 - 976. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 1998 American Neuropsychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us