Zeitschrift für Depression und Angst
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Electroconvulsive Therapy: Solution or a Cause of Tardiv Dyskinesia?

Varela Piñón María

Tardive dyskinesia is a motor disorder characterized by the appearance of involuntary and irregular movements in different body regions. It is usually caused by prolonged use of dopamine receptor blocking agents, especially by taking antipsychotics. Currently, there is no curative treatment for this disorder, although there are pharmacological strategies that reduce its impact. Electroconvulsive therapy has been successfully applied in several cases of tardive dyskinesia and has been proposed as a therapeutic alternative, although the available evidence is still insufficient. In the present article, we present a case of tardive dyskinesia which emerged following the application of electroconvulsive therapy. It is considered if there could be a relation between the application of this technique and the appearance of the motor disorder in specially predisposed individuals.