Tardive Dyskinesia Uncovered: Raising Awareness of a Chronic, Irreversible Condition

Welcome back to another Pharmacy Times Peer Exchange series. In this episode titled, 'Tardive Dyskinesia Uncovered: Raising Awareness of a Chronic, Irreversible Condition,' Stephen Saklad led the conversation about the following question:

What strategies can help elevate tardive dyskinesia (TD) awareness as a chronic, irreversible condition among healthcare providers?

Stephen Saklad, Melissa Cloyd, Jamie Kneebusch, and Farah Khorassani discussed the importance of ongoing provider re-education on TD, noting that many clinicians remain unfamiliar with the condition and its presentation, particularly given that effective vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor treatments have only been available since 2017. The panelists emphasized that providers should anticipate a meaningful prevalence of TD within their patient populations, especially among older patients on long-term antipsychotic therapy, and should actively screen for movement disorders rather than assume low rates based on underreporting. They also highlighted practical strategies for improving recognition, including leveraging caregiver observations, utilizing available educational platforms, and implementing electronic health record (EHR) reminders to prompt routine TD screening.

Throughout the conversation, the experts provided a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

In the next episode, 'Early Recognition and Routine Discussion: Improving Outcomes in Tardive Dyskinesia,' panelists continue their discussion on tardive dyskinesia and highlight how early recognition can influence long-term mental health outcomes, as well as practical approaches for encouraging routine discussion of TD during virtual and in-person visits.