A Rating Scale for Drug-Induced Akathisia

TLDR

The scale includes items for observable restless movements, subjective awareness, distress, and global severity, with a recommended standard examination procedure. The scale demonstrated good inter‑rater reliability (0.738–0.955) and identified akathisia in 8 of 42 schizophrenic inpatients, with 9 cases of pseudoakathisia lacking inner restlessness.

Abstract

A rating scale for drug-induced akathisia has been derived that incorporates diagnostic criteria for pseudoakathisia, and mild, moderate, and severe akathisia. It comprises items for rating the observable, restless movements which characterise the condition, the subjective awareness of restlessness, and any distress associated with the akathisia. In addition, there is an item for rating global severity. A standard examination procedure is recommended. The inter-rater reliability for the scale items (Cohen's x ) ranged from 0.738 to 0.955. Akathisia was found in eight of 42 schizophrenic inpatients, and nine had pseudoakathisia, where the typical sense of inner restlessness was not reported.