To the Editor: Akathisia is a clinical syndrome that manifests as the subjective sense of unease or restlessness, or observable motor manifestations such as shuffling or tramping movements of the legs and feet, or both.1 The marked distress associated with akathisia can lead to impulsive suicide attempts.2 It is commonly associated with antipsychotic medications, as well as various antidepressants, including tricyclics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
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- Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, WA.
- 1. Sachdev P, Loneragan C. The present status of akathisia. J Nerv Ment Dis 1991; 179: 381-392.
- 2. Drake RE, Erlich J. Suicide attempts associated with akathisia. Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142: 499-501.
- 3. Zubenko GS, Cohen BM, Lipinski JF Jr, Jonas JM. Use of clonidine in treating neuroleptic-induced akathisia. Psych Res 1984; 13: 253-259.