PREVALENCE OF ANTIDEPRESSANT-ASSOCIATED TARDIVE DYSKINESIA IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION

Abstract

Background Objective: To determine the prevalence of antidepressant-associated tardive dyskinesia in the elderly population. Methodology: The cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2025 to August 2025 in Karachi to determine the prevalence of antidepressant-associated tardive dyskinesia in the elderly population. The sample size was 150, and the non-probability purposive sampling technique was used. Data was evaluated by a validated tool: the AIM (Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale). The data was analyzed through SPSS version 23.0. Result: A total of 150 elderly patients were included in this study. The results of our study showed 46% of our research participants who took antidepressants presented with tardive dyskinesia, while 19.33% were not taking medications, but they had tardive dyskinesia. The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia was present in 65.33% and absent in 34.66% among the research participants. According to the AIMS scale, it has been observed that 26% of participants have abnormal movement of extremities. Conclusion: The Prevalence of dyskinesia was found in more than half of the research participants from our study who take antidepressants regularly.