Akathisia: Case Presentation and Review of Newer Treatment Agents

作者:Sethuram Karthik*; Gedzior Joanna
来源:Psychiatric Annals, 2014, 44(8): 391-396.
DOI:10.3928/00485713-20140806-07

摘要

Akathisia is a common and potentially debilitating adverse effect of many psychotropic agents. To a physician not specifically screening for this phenomenon, symptoms can appear similar to depression, anxiety, and/or psychosis. Further complicating matters, akathisia may also occur at different points during the treatment period with varying levels of severity in terms of patient distress. Treatment options have been limited by our somewhat poor understanding of akathisia's neurological basis, but dopamine dysregulation is theorized to play a central role. Most pharmacotherapy regimens focus on beta-adrenergic antagonists (eg, propranolol, the current gold-standard), which are thought to affect noradrenergic inputs into the dopamine pathways of the brain. However, new research suggests a role for serotonin-based pharmacotherapy, particularly those affecting 5-HT2a/c receptors (eg, mirtazapine) in regulating dopamine.

  • 出版日期2014-8