A Swallowing Disorder Denoted in Tardive Dyskinesia Patients

Abstract

An abnormal lingual condition has been detected in three clinically diagnosed Tardive Dyskinesia patients. Cinefluorographic analysis was the technique utilized to study this condition and a frame by frame tracing showed a pronounced lingual thrust to be present in each case.

Tardive Dyskinesia, an extrapyraniidal syndrome caused by long term ingestion of phenothiazine drugs, is characterized by choreathetoid movements, tonic and clonic posturing, and involuntary buccolingual movements. The buccolingual movements may be so severe that the patient has difficulty talking and swallowing. Studies to investigate the swallowing disorders of extrapyranmidal origin have been limited.