For the past 9 months, your client has been taking a conventional antipsychotic drug to treat symptoms associated with her diagnosis of schizophrenia. Although she has fewer auditory hallucinations, your client now experiences muscle tremors and rigidity to the point where she can no longer dress herself. It is likely that she is experiencing:.

Akathisia

Explanation:

Akathisia is the most common side effect of conventional antipsychotic drugs. Antipsychotic drugs causes extra-pyramidal symptoms which akathisia, acute dystonia and tardive dyskinesia. Akathisia is a severe form of motor restlessness which manifest as tremors of the limbs. It is usually associated with use of conventional antipsychotic like phenothiazines, thioxantines etc at a high dose for long. Akathisia is also thought to be poor antipsychotic drug response. Some patient may have severe akathisia that they feel anxious or irritable and some can even lead to aggressive or suicidal act. About 25-75% of patients treated with a high potency dopamine receptor antagonist experience akathisia. Treatment is with dosage adjustment, beta adrenergic receptor antagonist or an anticholinergic drug may produce relief.