Identification of a subgroup of tardive dyskinesia patients by pharmacologic probes

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Abstract
Some patients with tardive dyskinesia fit the cholinergic-dopaminergic imbalance theory, but some do not. In an attempt to study this heterogeneity further, the responses of 10 patients with tardive dyskinesia to i.v. challenge doses of drugs that facilitate or inhibit acetylcholine transmission (physostigmine or benztropine) were studied. The response of these patients to an open outpatient deanol trial was measured. The responses of half of the patients followed the classic theory, 2 responded paradoxically and 3 responded inconsistently. Apparently there is a subgroup of tardive dyskinesia patients who fit the theory but more research is needed to identify the subgroups who do not.