Raising Awareness of Tardive Dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia, or TD, is a condition of uncontrollable movements affecting the face, torso, and/or other body parts. TD may develop after a few months of taking certain medications to treat bipolar disorder, depression, or schizophrenia. TD affects approximately 600,000 people in the U.S.1-4
† Base: Patient ATU 2020. Target patients (diagnosed TD or suspected TD) n=350 that were “moderately, very or extremely affected” in these areas by their involuntary movements. The survey evaluated 1,000 patients on medications such as antipsychotics.
* Responses based on survey question: To what extent is the physical impact of your involuntary movements frustrating? Rating scale: 1 to 5 where 1 means “not at all frustrating,” and 5 means “extremely frustrating.”
** Responses based on survey question: Since first experiencing involuntary movements, how has your ability to perform the following daily activities been affected, if at all? Rating scale: 1 to 5 when 1 means “not affected at all,” and 5 means “extremely negatively affected.”
The uncontrollable movements of TD may be disruptive to people’s lives due to the symptoms themselves and the impact they can have on emotional and social well-being.5 Despite this, research shows a gap in awareness and need for further education.6
Data from the RE-KINECT study, the largest ever real-world screening study of patients with clinician-confirmed possible TD, demonstrated that the involuntary movements associated with TD had a negative impact on a patient’s health-related quality of life. The study found that 75% of people in this group (n=204) affirmed feeling self-conscious or embarrassed about involuntary movements.7
Resources
Talk About TD
Tardive Dyskinesia | NAMI
Tardive Dyskinesia Information Page | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
TD Infographic
TD Awareness Timeline
Test Your TD Knowledge
Pennsylvania Backgrounder
Do You Think It Might Be Tardive Dyskinesia? (TD)
TD Fact Sheet
Blog Post: What is Tardive Dyskinesia?
Personal Story: Facing Tardive Dyskinesia
Personal Story: My Experience with Tardive Dyskinesia