Correlations Between Akathisia and Residual Psychopathology: A By-product of Neuroleptic-Induced Dysphoria

Patients developing neuroleptic-induced akathisia have been reported to show higher levels of psychopathology. We sought to replicate this finding and determine its symptom specificity. We confirmed a significant relationship between ratings of akathisia and total score on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) during both acute and maintenance neuroleptic treatment. Using stepwise regression models, BPRS anxious-depressive subscale scores were the strongest predictors of akathisia during both treatment conditions. Paranoid subscale scores predicted akathisia only during maintenance treatment. These results suggest that neuroleptic-induced dysphoria largely explains the relationship between akathisia and residual psychopathology during both acute and maintenance neuroleptic treatment.