VIDEO: How tardive dyskinesia impacts social function, mental health

Editor’s note: This is an automatically generated transcript, which has been slightly edited for clarity. Please notify iwaters@healio.com if there are concerns regarding accuracy of the transcription.

The tardive dyskinesia movements have multiple effects. They can be local in terms of pain, so that's very biological, but they can also be psychological; people might feel sad and depressed over these symptoms. They might be anxious because people can identify them as being mentally ill. It can reduce their self-esteem, hopelessness, and loss of sense of purpose can be another subsequent effect of tardive dyskinesia.

Also, problems with gaining or maintaining a job, problems with performance at the job, getting school or work activities done, difficulties with peers. There are studies showing that you are less likely to be selected for dates or being accepted for work if you have some of these involuntary movements, that, for patients, is not their fault.

And then in social interactions, there can be difficulties in participating in events or even showing up. Their self-consciousness and embarrassment, and avoidance of interaction with others, especially when mentally ill patients are isolated often themselves, and when we know that the human contact can be very therapeutic. So, in that sense, again, by treating the motor symptoms, we can improve biopsychosocial functioning of patients who are affected by tardive dyskinesia.