SERUM IRON ABNORMALITIES IN NEUROLEPTIC-INDUCED AKATHISIA IN SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

Twenty-two schizophrenic patients (DSM-III-R criteria) with clinically significant akathisia were matched with 22 schizophrenic patients without akathisia on the following variables: age, sex, diagnosis, duration of illness, and current treatment. Both groups were assessed using a variety of clinical rating scales and several parameters of serum iron status. The akathisic patients showed greater severity of clinical psychopathology, particularly positive symptoms, and an excess of extrapyramidal side-effects. We were unable to confirm any association between low serum iron and neuroleptic-induced akathisia in our sample of community-based patients.