Treatment of tardive dyskinesia: A systematic review (1997-2011)

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a frequent and incapacitating side effect of first-generation antipsychotics. Although second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) seem to be associated with a decreased risk of TD, it remains a severe, unresolved iatrogenic condition. Moreover, there is no commonly accepted effective treatment for TD. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to assess evidence regarding the effectiveness of different therapeutic interventions for TD. Methods: We performed a systematic review focussing exclusively on randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We searched the MEDLINE database (1997 to 2011) using the keyword "tardive dyskinesia" within the "title" search field. Twenty-six RCTs were included. Based on the evidence from RCTs, we built a decision tree that healthcare professionals can use to choose an effective therapeutic intervention for TD. Results: Four therapeutic interventions were found to be effective in TD (vitamin B6, ginkgo biloba, branched-chain amino acids, and piracetam). Conclusions: Patients with TD could benefit from the therapeutic interventions supported by the data accumulated from RCTs.