CA SR73

Proclaims the week of May 3, 2020, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week to raise awareness of the disease.

Identifies Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) as a movement disorder characterized by involuntary, uncontrolled movements that can affect the face, trunk, extremities, tongue, lips, jaw, and muscles involved in walking, speech, eating, and breathing.

Notes that TD can develop months, years, or decades after taking dopamine receptor blocking agents (DRBAs) used to treat mental illness and gastrointestinal disorders, with an estimated 10-30 percent risk after prolonged exposure and over 60,000 Californians currently suffering from the condition.

Recommends regular screening for TD in patients taking DRBA medications using rating scales endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association, as two new FDA-approved treatments have recently become available.

Acknowledges that TD patients often experience social isolation and embarrassment due to abnormal movements, and that caregivers face significant challenges in supporting affected individuals.