Which assessment is essential to monitor for extrapyramidal symptoms in patients on antipsychotics?

• A. Visual acuity screening
• B. Hearing screening
• C. Extrapyramidal symptoms assessment
• D. Sleep quality index

Answer: (C)

Antipsychotics can cause movement disorders by blocking dopamine in the motor pathways, so watching for extrapyramidal symptoms is essential. Regularly using an extrapyramidal symptoms assessment allows for early detection of parkinsonism, akathisia, dystonia, and tardive dyskinesia, enabling timely management such as dose adjustment, switching medications, or adding treatments for these effects. Visual acuity and hearing screenings don’t target these drug-induced motor changes, and while sleep quality can be affected by many factors, it doesn’t specifically monitor EPS. So, this focused assessment is the appropriate tool for tracking these potential adverse effects.