82% of Caregivers Say Tardive Dyskinesia Severely Impacts Patients

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Tardive dyskinesia impacts both the patients living with the movement disorder and those who care for them.

There is limited research on how tardive dyskinesia (TD) affects people, not only patients but also caregivers. Realizing this, researchers from Texas Tech University School of Medicine investigated this topic to highlight the patient and caregiver voice and help educate clinicians and others on TD’s multidimensional impact on QOL.

To fully understand to what extent TD affects QOL for individuals living with the condition and those who care for them, the study team sought input from healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers to develop an online survey. The survey was administered to caregivers who responded to questions about the effect of TD on the patient in their care and the impact they experience.

The team published their findings in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Most Caregivers Did Not Consider It Burdensome to Assist Patients

Researchers observed that 82.7% of caregivers in the study responded that TD had a severe impact on the patients in their care in at least one psychological, physical, or social example. Additionally, in nearly every example provided, most caregivers indicated that TD affected the patient at least some of the time regarding psychological examples. These included feeling sad or anxious, interfering with the ability to socialize, and impacting their ability to perform daily activities of living.

Based on the survey, most caregivers did not think assisting patients with daily tasks and activities would be a burden. However, many reported that their role as caregiver affected their own psychological well-being, work, and social activities. For example, most caregivers reported feeling worried or anxious due to the patient’s condition, which impacted their ability to participate in activities they enjoyed.

The study’s key takeaway was its insight into the multidimensional impact of TD on both patients and caregivers, according to the study team. They noted that the survey responses illustrate each patient’s burden due to TD. This realization can help guide management decisions and improve the QOL for people with TD and those who care for them.