RESUMO
OBJECT: This cross-sectional study was performed in order to evaluate the prevalence of tardive dyskinesia among the hospitalized schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Four hundred nineteen hospitalized schizophrenic patients(male=263, female=156) were recruited for this study. They were treated with antipsychotics for more than 3 months. The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia was assessed by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia was 35.6%(Male=36.9%, Female 33.3%). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of tardive dyskinesia among male and female schizophrenic patients. The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia among the patients over 30years old was much higher than those below 30years old. There were no significant correlations between the prevalence of tardive dyskinesia and the duration of hospitalization, the total amount of antipsychotics. The frequently involved parts of the body in the schizophrenic patients who have tardive dyskinesia were tongue, upper extremity, lips and perioral area, jaw, lower extremity, muscles of facial expression trunk, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant correlation between the age and the prevalence of tardive dyskinesia in the antipsychotic-treated schizophrenic patients.