Objective: Incidence rates of presumptive tardive dyskinesia (TD) were compared in acutely psychotic or agitated elderly patients treated with olanzapine (OLZ) or conventional antipsychotic (CNV) drug therapy.
Design: Patients without TD were randomized to OLZ (2.5-20 mg/day; n=150) or CNV (dosed per label; n=143) therapy and underwent a 6-week drug tapering/drug initiation period followed by reassessment of TD. Patients remaining without TD after six weeks were treated with OLZ or CNV for up to 1 year.
Materials and Methods: Primary analysis was time-to-TD incidence, defined as rating on the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) of either: A) moderate severity (³3) in 1 body region or mild severity (2) in 2 or more body regions, or B) moderate severity (³3) in 1 body region alone.
Results: Patients in CNV group were at a greater risk for presumptive TD than patients in OLZ group (criteria A or B, p<.05). Incidence of presumptive TD that persisted for at least 1 month was lower and differed between treatments only for criterion B (moderately severe symptoms; p<.05).
Conclusion: In elderly patients who are at a greater risk for developing TD, these data revealed a lower risk of developing dyskinetic symptoms in patients treated with olanzapine versus conventional antipsychotics.
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