Other Common Psychiatric Emergencies

Abstract

Patients being treated with neuroleptic medication often present to the emergency department with bizarre involuntary movements. These involuntary movements are usually extrapyramidal syndromes and are believed to result from the blockade of dopamine receptors in the basal ganglia. By eliciting a history of neuroleptic treatment, the physician can rapidly treat the patient and usually bring about immediate relief. Extrapyramidal symptoms fall into several discrete categories.