Abstract

Antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) include movement disorders such as acute dystonia, akathisia, and parkinsonism, which can appear within hours to weeks after starting or increasing antipsychotic doses. This study assessed the effectiveness of a psychoeducation module in improving caregivers’ knowledge of EPS among patients receiving antipsychotics in selected hospitals in Lucknow. A pre-experimental quantitative design was used with a nonprobability convenience sample of 60 caregivers. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and interview method. The objectives were to assess caregivers’ pretest and posttest knowledge, evaluate the effectiveness of the psychoeducation module, and determine the association between pretest knowledge and selected demographic variables. Posttest findings showed that 24 caregivers had moderately adequate knowledge and 36 had adequate knowledge. The study concluded that posttest knowledge levels were significantly associated with demographic variables, including age, gender, religion, marital status, education, occupation, family type, living area, family size, monthly income, and relationship with the patient.

• 1.   Arciniegas D.B. Psychosis. Continuum: lifelong learning in neurology. 2015; 21(3): 715–36.
• 2.   Ayano G. Dopamine: receptors, functions, synthesis, pathways, locations and mental disorders: review of literatures. J Ment Disord Treat. 2016; 2(120): 2.
• 3.   Alcaro A., Huber R., Panksepp J. Behavioral functions of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system: an affective neuroethological perspective. Brain Res Rev. 2007; 56(2): 283–321.
• 4.   Tandon R., Jibson M.D. Extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotic treatment: scope of problem and impact on outcome. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry. 2002; 14(2): 123–9.
• 5.   Packard M.G., Knowlton B.J. Learning and memory functions of the basal ganglia. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2002; 25(1): 563–93.
• 6.   Burke R.E., Fahn S., Jankovic J., Marsden C.D., Lang A.E., Gollomp S., et al. Tardive dystonia: late-onset and persistent dystonia caused by antipsychotic drugs. Neurology. 1982; 32(12): 1335. 7. Lewis D.A., Liebermant J.A. Neuron, Vol. 28, 325-334, November, 2000, Copyright© 2000 by Cell Press Catching Up on Schizophrenia: Natural History and Neurobiology. Schizophrenia: The Science of Mental Healt 2001; 3:1
• 8.   Kane J.M., Kishimoto T., Correll CU. Non-adherence to medication in patients with psychotic disorders: epidemiology, 51JPN/Volume 15 Number 1/January–April 2026 contributing factors and management strategies. World psychiatry. 2013; 12(3): 216–26.
• 9.   Chokhawala K., Stevens L. Antipsychotic medications. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
• 10.   Suokas K., Kurkela O., Nevalainen J., Suvisaari J., Hakulinen C., Kampman O., et al. Geographical variation in treated psychotic and other mental disorders in Finland by region and urbanicity. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2024; 59(1): 37–49.
• 11.   Fan Y., Fan A., Yang Z., Fan D. Global burden of mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2021: results from the global burden of disease study 2021. BMC Psychiatry. 2025; 25(1): 486.