PREVALENCE OF TARDIVE DYSKINESIA AMONG PSYCHIATRIC IN-PATIENTS AT MATHARI HOSPITAL, NAIROBI

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of tardive dyskinesia among psychiatric
in-patients.
Design: A cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Mathari Hospital, Nairobi, the main psychiatric referral hospital in Kenya.
Subjects: Two hundred and two randomly selected in-patients seen in the hospital
between January and April 2000.
Results: The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia was 11.9%. Neither the psychiatric
diagnosis nor the sex was significantly associated with tardive dyskinesia. The antipsychotic
dosage was also not associated with tardive dyskinesia but an increase in age was
significantly associated with the abnormal movements.
Conclusion: The prevalence rate of tardive dyskinesia among patients at Mathari
Hospital is much lower than that found in western countries but similar to that from
Asian studies. These findings indicate the possibility of racial differences in the aetiology
of TD. Prospective cross- racial studies are necessary to confirm these findings.