Akathisia. When treatment creates a problem.

1. Akathisia is a state of restlessness and motor agitation, which includes subjective feelings of inner tension, emotional unease, anxiety, a constant need to move, restless motor activity, and an inability to tolerate inactivity or rest. 2. Akathisia is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed as agitation or anxiety of psychiatric origin; this often leads to inappropriate increases in the antipsychotic dosage, which then potentiates its severity, or to the misuse of antianxiety agents, which masks symptoms. 3. Akathisia can be easy to recognize by simple clinical observation of the patient's behaviors, especially if the symptoms worsen after increases in antipsychotic dosages or the frequent use of as needed medications. Assessment must also include the patient's own report.