Autori: Andrea Fagiolini, Emi Bondi, Giovanni Fabbrini, Giuseppe Nicolò, Michele Tinazzi, Antonio Vita, Marzia Bonfanti, Andrea Vitagliano, Giacomo Zavaroni, Fabrizio Starace
Background
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a chronic movement disorder within the spectrum of tardive syndromes, caused by long-term exposure to dopamine receptor-blocking agents, primarily antipsychotics (APs). Tardive Dyskinesia significantly impairs patients’ quality of life and may potentially destabilize the underlying psychiatric condition. Although several therapeutic strategies have been tested, management of this condition remains inadequate. Furthermore, Italian epidemiological data of Tardive Dyskinesia are currently unknown.
This analysis aims to assess the epidemiology of Tardive Dyskinesia in Italian adult patients and determine the current clinical management.
A literature review was conducted to examine the epidemiology and clinical management of Tardive Dyskinesia in Italy. Given the scarcity of epidemiological data, a patient funnel model was designed to estimate the disease prevalence, while insights from seven Italian clinical experts on Tardive Dyskinesia were collected to address literature gaps and provide additional data inputs for the model.
The patient funnel identified 106,424 individuals with Tardive Dyskinesia in Italy: 22,775 with moderate-severe forms and 83,649 with mild forms.
The lack of a standardized approach applied to clinical management of patients with Tardive Dyskinesia, such as limited use of diagnostic assessment tools, concerns about limited AP medication adherence, and the absence of safe and effective pharmacological strategies, determine a low rate of diagnoses and suboptimal management of the condition.
This analysis estimates the prevalence of patients with Tardive Dyskinesia in Italy, highlighting the elevated rate of underdiagnosis and the significant heterogeneity in therapeutic approaches and patient management of Tardive Dyskinesia within the Italian NHS. To address these challenges, implementing standardized assessment tools, developing national guidelines, enhancing awareness among psychiatrists, and exploring innovative therapeutic strategies represent urgent priorities for the Italian NHS.
Keywords
Tardive dyskinesia, epidemiology, clinical practice, underdiagnosis.
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