The course recognition and treatment of movement disorders in severe mental illness

Charlotte Liduine Mentzel

Research output: ThesisDoctoral ThesisExternal prepared

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Abstract

This dissertation describes an 18-year study of patients with severe mental illnesses (SMI) conducted in Curacao. Medicine use is common among this group, and the prevalence of movement disorders, for example tremor (trembling), slowness and abnormal movements of the face, is 80%. These disorders are associated with shame and non-compliance with medication regimens. The study results show that switching from one antipsychotic drug to another does not reduce the prevalence of movement disorders, and that tremor responds well to treatment. Based on these results, the guideline for schizophrenia should be adjusted. Patients with SMI differ from less severely ill patients in various ways. Researchers advocate a separate guideline for patients with SMI in order to improve their quality of life.
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Maastricht University
Supervisors/Advisors
  • van Harten, Pieter, Supervisor
  • de Koning-Tijssen, M.A.J., Supervisor, External person
  • Bakker, P.R., Co-Supervisor, External person
Award date4 Oct 2017
Place of PublicationMaastricht
Publisher
Print ISBNs978 94 6159 741 0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • severe mental illness
  • treatment
  • medication

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