Which assessment tool is specifically used to measure abnormal involuntary movements in patients on antipsychotic medications?

• A. Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale
• B. Beck Depression Inventory
• C. Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety
• D. Mini-Mental State Examination

Answer: (A)

Measuring abnormal involuntary movements in patients on antipsychotics is done with a dedicated observational tool that targets tardive dyskinesia. The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale guides clinicians to rate the severity of movements in facial/oral regions, limbs, and trunk, both at rest and with actions, producing a score that tracks changes over time. This focused approach helps detect emergence or worsening of drug-induced movements and informs decisions about adjusting or changing medications. Other instruments mentioned assess mood, anxiety, or general cognition, not motor side effects, so they aren’t appropriate for measuring these abnormal involuntary movements.