Abstract
Many acute and potentially life-threatening medical conditions have hyperkinetic or
hypokinetic movement disorders as their hallmark. Here we review the clinical phenomenology,
and diagnostic principles of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, malignant catatonia,
serotonin syndrome, Parkinsonism hyperpyrexia, acute parkinsonism, acute chorea-ballism,
drug-induced dystonia, and status dystonicus. In the absence of definitive lab tests
and imaging, only a high index of clinical suspicion, awareness of at-risk populations,
and variations in clinical presentation can help with diagnosis. We also discuss the
principles of management and rationale behind treatment modalities in the light of
more recent evidence.
Keywords
neuroleptic malignant syndrome - serotonin syndrome - acute dystonic reaction - oculogyric
crisis - Parkinsonism hyperpyrexia - antipsychotics - tardive dyskinesia - acute Parkinsonism
- drug-induced dystonia - malignant catatonia
