[Akathisia--diagnosis, pathophysiology and therapy]

Abstract

Akathisia is an atypical disorder (or the symptom) of the motor system standing on the border of neurology and psychiatry. In neurology, akathisia is a disorder resulting mainly from disturbed dopaminergic transmission; in the field of psychiatry it is recognized as one of the extrapiramidal side effects during the treatment with neuroleptics. The paper describes the historical context of disorder defined as akathisia, its clinical course, pathophysiology, as well as therapy.