Informed consent and tardive dyskinesia

Abstract

To determine whether a formalized informing process transmitted knowledge concerning the risks and benefits of neuroleptic medication, particularly the risk of tardive dyskinesia, to stable schizophrenic outpatients, the authors administered a multiple-choice questionnaire to 21 patients who were read as standardized information form and 27 patients who were not. The mean scores for the informed paitents were significantly higher, and the differences between the two groups remained significant at 6-month follow-up. The information process had no adverse effects on frequency of psychiatric admission, noncompliance with medication, or the need for increased antipsychotic medication.