Tardive dyskinesia (TD), a movement disorder that causes involuntary movements often triggered by antipsychotic exposure, has appeared in the DSM for decades. Despite advancements in diagnostic tools and treatments, TD still goes unrecognized in many cases.
"Tardive dyskinesia continues to be a prevalent and clinically significant condition, particularly among older adults, women, and long-term antipsychotic users across both the United States and international settings," noted Mohsin Raza, MD, MSc, of UHS Dover Behavioral Health System in Delaware, and colleagues in StatPearls.
"Geographic variations in prevalence and recognition exist within healthcare systems, with underdiagnosis persisting despite the availability of improved assessment tools," they pointed out.
Massive Gaps in Formal Diagnosis Rates
Few patients with mood disorders and TD symptoms meeting diagnostic criteria received a formal TD diagnosis, according to a recent analysis from the IMPACT-TD registry presented at the 2026 American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting. The formal diagnosis rate was lowest for participants ages 18 to 29, at 23%; it rose to 35% for participants ages 30 to 39, 57% for those ages 40 to 49, and 47% for those 50 and older.
