Drug Induced Akathisia, Suicidal Ideation and its Treatment in the Elderly

This letter to the editor discusses the often under- & misdiagnosed condition of akathisia by reporting on the case of an 83-year-old male admitted to hospital with an initial diagnosis of major depressive disorder. The patient had a past psychiatric history of recurrent depressive disorder. During the current hospital admission, the patient was assessed to be suicidal for the first time. A course of ECT was initiated & a low dose of risperidone was maintained for the prior psychotic symptoms & suicidal ideation. The evidence for an association between akathisia & suicidal ideation/behaviour is discussed. A very brief strategy for the management of akathisia is outlined. (11 refs.)