Informed consent and tardive dyskinesia

To determine whether a formalized informing process transmitted knowledge concerning the risks and benefits of neuroleptic medication, particularly the risk of tardive dyskinesia, to stable schizophrenic outpatients, the authors administered a multiple-choice questionnaire to 21 patients who were read a standardized information form and 27 patients who were not. The mean scores for the informed patients were significantly higher, and the differences between the two groups remained significant at 6-month follow-up. The information process had no adverse effects on frequency of psychiatric admission, noncompliance with medication, or the need for increased antipsychotic medication.