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We report on a patient with schizoaffective disorder who developed unilateral akathisia. This is the first case report of a patient with neuroleptic-induced unilateral akathisia on whom an all-night polysomnogram was recorded. On the polysomnogram we observed right side periodic limb movements (PLM) with left side unilateral akathisia, and after her akathisia disappeared, the PLM also disappeared. Brain MRI findings and neurological findings were within normal limits. The pathogenetic lesion causing akathisia could not be elucidated.

Neuroleptic-induced akathisia (NIA) is motor restlessness caused by dopamine receptor blocking antipsychotic agents. Nine patients with NIA and 11 patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS) were studied polysomnographically. The sleep disturbances were milder in NIA than idiopathic RLS but increased numbers of awakenings and decreased sleep efficiencies were common to both groups. In addition, RLS patients demonstrated prolonged sleep latencies. Periodic movements in sleep (PMS) were present in only 5 of 9 patients with NIA but in all 11 patients with idiopathic RLS. In no NIA patient did we see the multiple, large amplitude, violent, resting myoclonic jerks of the legs that we saw during wakefulness in some of our more severe cases of idiopathic RLS. NIA patients tended to experience inner restlessness and idiopathic RLS patients tended to experience leg paresthesias as an antecedent to motor restlessness. Idiopathic RLS patients had symptoms that were worse at night and in repose far more frequently than patients with NIA. NIA and idiopathic RLS have similarities and differences. Because both NIA and idiopathic RLS are characterized by motor restlessness and sleep disturbances, the pharmacodynamics of antipsychotic medications may give clues as to both the cause and treatment of idiopathic RLS.

Akathisia is an easily treatable but often overlooked extrapyramidal symptom induced by neuroleptic drugs. It causes the patient severe distress due to the feeling of inner disquiet and the inability to sit still or to lie quietly. A case of a demented uncommunicative patient is presented to show its subtlety of diagnosis and to call attention of the possibility of akathisia to any "uncomfortable" patient who is on neuroleptic drugs. The author feels that a therapeutic trial with antiparkinsonian drug is warranted if the case for akathisia is in doubt.