Tardive dyskinesia is important to monitor during long-term antipsychotic therapy because it can be:

• A. It can be irreversible; monitor regularly to adjust treatment promptly.
• B. It is a temporary side effect that resolves after a few days.
• C. It only occurs with mood disorders.
• D. It is unrelated to antipsychotics.

Answer: (A)

Tardive dyskinesia happens from long-term dopamine receptor blockade in brain circuits that control movement, so it tends to show up after months or years of antipsychotic therapy. The key point is that it can persist, and in some cases become permanent even after the drug is reduced or stopped. Because of that, regular monitoring is essential to catch early signs and adjust treatment before the condition becomes irreversible. Early indicators are involuntary, repetitive movements—often of the face, tongue, or mouth, and sometimes in the limbs or trunk. If detected early, clinicians can lower the dose, switch to a lower-risk antipsychotic, or take other steps to minimize exposure and progression. This risk is tied to long-term use and certain drugs, not to mood disorders, and it underscores why ongoing assessment during antipsychotic therapy is so important.