Past Issues

Tardive dyskinesia (TDk) and tardive dystonia (TDt) are linked with much different potential pathophysiology; the exposure to dopamine re-ceptor blocking agent is one of the most popular mechanisms of action [1]. Both occur as late-onset involuntary abnormal movement and posturing. Little is known about the exact biological etiological mechanisms of TDk and TDt. But cholinergic-dopaminergic balance has often been hypothesized in their pathophysiology [2]. An effective and simple treatment is still lacking for those two clinical symptoms. Aripiprazole, a novel antipsychotic, has a unique pharmacological mechanism as a partial agonist at dopamine D₂, D₃, and 5HT_1A receptors, and an antagonist at the 5HT_2Areceptor [3]. Some case reports have mentioned the benefit of moderate to high doses of aripiprazole in treating TDk or TDt [4, 5]. Herein, we present a case of a patient whose TDk/TDt almost fully subsided under a low-dose aripiprazole treatment.