Case presentation of a middle aged lady Mrs. C.K., who developed tardive dyskinesia (TD) after a trial of an SSRI.

A 49-year-old Australian aboriginal lady, presented with involuntary movement of her face (bucco-linguo masticatory), movements after a 3 months trial of sertraline (maximum dose of 100 mg daily) for her depressive illness. There was no history of trials with anti-psychotics or any other medications, which may have caused the oral dyskinesias. Routine examinations including cognitive testing, EEG and MRI revealed no pathological findings. Her sertraline was ceased and she was commenced on mirtazapine 15 mg at night, which was hiked to 30 mg after 1 week and continued on this dose over the next 3 months. She exhibited good improvement in her depressive symptoms and a significant attenuation of her TD's. Involuntary movement scale rating: she was rated on the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS) and showed gradual improvement in the severity of her orofacial dyskinetic movement. Her scores were–initial presentation (scored 22/36); at 4 weeks (9/36); 8 weeks (6/36) and at 16 weeks (4/36).

Although TD's are seen in approximately 1 to 5% of mental health patients treated with anti-psychotics (and some other medications like Levodopa, Metochlorpromide, etc.), research studies on SSRI's causing TD's are rare and few (Leo et al., 1996; Gerber et al., 1998).

To alert and educate clinicians about a relatively rare adverse-effect of SSRI producing an involuntary movement disorder.

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.