Brain imaging studies on Tardive Dyskinesia in schizophrenia patients and animal models: a comprehensive review

Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is an iatrogenic movement disorder that most frequently impacts patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) who use antipsychotics (APs) for a month or longer. Although brain imaging studies focusing on TD have increased in recent decades, this research area is still underdeveloped. Prior research has shown numerous deficits associated with TD, suggesting that TD should not only be conceptualized as an abnormal movement disorder. Given the evidence of cognitive deterioration in patients with TD compared to the patients with SCZ without TD, linking cognitive deterioration with structural and physiological changes in the brain help improve assessment and prediction of cognitive changes in this population. This review examines the present literature on neuroimaging and TD and discusses key themes. TD is an iatrogenic movement disorder primarily affecting patients with schizophrenia who use antipsychotics for an extended period. Despite an increase in brain imaging studies, research on TD remains underdeveloped. TD should not be solely perceived as an abnormal movement disorder; prior research has identified various deficits associated with TD. Linking cognitive deterioration with structural and physiological brain changes can enhance the assessment and prediction of cognitive changes in individuals with TD.