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Fourteen patients with neuroleptic-induced akathisia were treated with propranolol in an open trial. All patients demonstrated substantial improvement of their akathisia; nine of the 14 obtained complete remission. Response was quite rapid, occurring within 24 hours in most cases. Doses required for improvement were low (30-80 mg/day), and side effects were few. Lithium-induced tremor improved considerably, but symptoms of parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia showed little change. Preliminary results with certain other beta blockers suggest that they are less effective than propranolol in the treatment of akathisia.

Among 547 elderly inpatients grouped by DSM-III-R axis I diagnoses, the diagnostic rate of comorbid personality disorder varied four-fold, from 6% in patients with an organic mental disorder to 24% in those with major depression. The previously reported low prevalence of comorbid personality disorder in geriatric patients may be due to its lower rate of diagnosis among patients with organic mental disorders.