Posted: Wednesday, Apr 29, 2026
We are proud to recognize May 3-9, 2026, as Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) Awareness Week to bring attention to TD and encourage discussion to reduce stigma and support those affected. At least 800,000 adults in the United States are estimated to be living with TD; approximately 60% remain undiagnosed.1,2
TD is an involuntary movement disorder that is characterized by uncontrolled movements of the face, torso, limbs, fingers and toes.1,3-5 It is associated with the use of antipsychotic medication that may be necessary to treat individuals living with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.4,6* TD is a chronic condition that is unlikely to improve without treatment.1,7
People taking antipsychotic medication should be routinely screened by a healthcare provider for drug-induced movement disorders, such as TD.5,7 The American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2020 clinical guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia recommend screening for TD at least every six months for those with a high risk and at least every 12 months for others at risk of developing TD.7 Earlier recognition and treatment of TD can make a positive impact in the lives of people who are already managing their mental illness, including their loved ones or care partners.
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, an important time to acknowledge the one in five U.S. adults living with a mental illness.8
Mental health and TD are deeply connected. TD can affect social, emotional and functional well-being, compounding the burden of mental illness.10
Surveyed adults with a confirmed TD diagnosis (n=150) reported that their TD movements made them feel judged or stared at (86%), cancel social plans or avoid going out in public (56%) and ask someone to help in doing daily activities as a result of TD symptoms (43%).†
However, the impact of TD isn’t limited to the people who have it. In a survey of 36 care partners, most reported that their loved one’s TD movements had at least some impact on their productivity (58%), ability to socialize (~56%), self‑care (50%) and participation in usual activities (50%).‡
Thank you for your dedication to raising awareness about TD and encouraging discussion that helps reduce stigma and empower those affected. We invite everyone across Washington state to recognize the first full week of May as TD Awareness Week. Explore helpful resources, including a doctor discussion guide, at TalkAboutTD.com.
*Certain prescription medicines (metoclopramide and prochlorperazine) used to treat gastrointestinal disorders may also cause TD.11,12
† The TD patient survey was conducted online in the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. The survey included 150 patients with mild/moderate TD (n=112) or severe TD (n=38) aged 18 or older who have been diagnosed with TD by a healthcare provider. The survey was conducted from December 12, 2024 to December 31, 2024.
‡ In a survey, 36 qualified caregivers who noticed abnormal involuntary movements in the past four weeks were asked to rank the impact of caring for patients’ health on caregivers’ lives. Answers were based on a scale of 0 (no impact at all) to 10 (impacted as bad as you can imagine).
REFERENCES
1. Cloud LJ, Zutshi D, Factor SA. Tardive dyskinesia: therapeutic options for an increasingly common disorder. Neurotherapeutics.
2014;11(1):166-176. doi:10.1007/s13311-013-0222-5 2. Data on file. Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. 3. Task Force on Tardive Dyskinesia. Tardive Dyskinesia: A Task Force Report of the American Psychiatric Association. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1992. 4. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2023. 5. Guy W. ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology. Rev. 1976. U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, National Institute of Mental Health, Psychopharmacology Research Branch, Division of Extramural Research Programs; 1976. 6. Caroff SN, Hurford I, Lybrand J, Campbell EC. Movement disorders induced by antipsychotic drugs: implications of the CATIE schizophrenia trial. Neurol Clin. 2011;29(1):127-148. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2010.10.002 7. Keepers GA, Fochtmann LJ, Anzia JM, et al. The American Psychiatric Association practice guideline for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry. 2020;177(9):868-872. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.177901 8. Mental health by the numbers. National Alliance for Mental Illness. Updated 2025. Accessed January 13, 2026. https://www.nami.org/learnmore/mental-health-by-the-numbers 9. Reinert M, Fritze D, Nguyen T. The state of mental health in America: 2025 edition. Mental Health America. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://mhanational.org/wp-con... 10. Ascher-Svanum H, Zhu B, Faries D, Peng X, Kinon BJ, Tohen M. Tardive dyskinesia and the 3-year course of schizophrenia: results from a large, prospective, naturalistic study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(10):1580-1588. doi:10.4088/jcp.v69n1008 11. Kenney C, Hunter C, Davidson A, Jankovic J. Metoclopramide, an increasingly recognized cause of tardive dyskinesia. J Clin Pharmacol. 2008;48(3):379-384. doi:10.1177/0091270007312258 12. Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR. A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research. Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913