Synonyms
EPS; Extrapyramidal adverse reactions; Extrapyramidal disease; Extrapyramidal side effects; Parkinsonian movements
Indications
“Extrapyramidal” refers to the nerve fibers outside the pyramidal tracts of the central nervous system. The term extrapyramidal symptoms refers to the neurological adverse effects from antipsychotic medications that mimic the characteristics of extrapyramidal disease. Pharmacological agents that decrease dopamine neurotransmission other than neuroleptics can produce extrapyramidal symptoms as well, though neuroleptics, particularly those that block D2receptors, are most often responsible for causing extrapyramidal adverse reactions. Standard practice when administering conventional antipsychotic medication is augmentation with anticholinergic agents such as benztropine (Cogentin) that block striatal cholinergic receptors can help regulate cholinergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission reducing the severity of extrapyramidal side effects...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References and Readings
Afifi, A. K., & Bergman, R. A. (1998). Basal ganglia. In A. K. Afifi & R. A. Bergman (Eds.), Functional neuroanatomy: Text & atlas (pp. 276–295). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Extrapyramidal Symptoms. (2009a). In The free dictionary by Farlex. Retrieved January 13, 2009, from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com
Extrapyramidal Symptoms. (2009b). In MedicineNet. Retrieved January 13, 2009, from http://www.medterms.com
Kaufman, D. M. (2007a). Central nervous system disorders. In D. M. Kaufman (Ed.), Clinical neuropsychiatry for psychiatrists (6th ed., pp. 5–14). Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Kaufman, D. M. (2007b). Congenital cerebral impairments. In D. M. Kaufman (Ed.), Clinical neuropsychiatry for psychiatrists (6th ed., pp. 295–316). Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Myers, T. (2006). Extrapyramidal symptoms (definition). In T. Myers (Ed.), Mosby’s dictionary of medicine, nursing & health professions (7th ed., p. 697). St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
Shy-Drager Syndrome. (2003). In MedicineNet. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://www.medterms.com.
Stahl, S. M. (2000). Antipsychotic agents. In S. M. Stahl (Ed.), Essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (2nd ed., pp. 401–458). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Venes, D., Thomas, C., Egan, E., & Houska, A. (2001). Extrapyramidal symptoms (definition). In D. Venes et al. (Eds.), Taber’s medical dictionary (19th ed., p. 760). Philadelphia: FA Davis Company.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this entry
Cite this entry
Sanzone, M. (2018). Extrapyramidal Symptoms. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_1764
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_1764
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-57110-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57111-9
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences