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A RESOLUTION declaring the week of May 1 to 7, 2022, to be Tardive Dyskinesia 1
Awareness Week. 2
WHEREAS, many people with serious, chronic mental illness, such as 3
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, and gastrointestinal disorders, 4
including gastroparesis, nausea, and vomiting, require treatment with medications that 5
work as dopamine receptor blocking agents (DRBAs), including antipsychotics; and 6
WHEREAS, although ongoing treatment with these medications can be helpful and 7
even lifesaving, for many people it can also lead to Tardive Dyskinesia; and 8
WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is characterized by 9
random, involuntary, and uncontrolled movements of different muscles in the face, trunk, 10
and extremities; and 11
WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia can develop months, years, or decades after a 12
person starts taking DRBAs and even after discontinuing use of those medications. Not 13
everyone who takes a DRBA develops Tardive Dyskinesia, but if it develops, it is often 14
permanent; and 15
WHEREAS, it is estimated that over 600,000 Americans suffer from Tardive 16
Dyskinesia. According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, one in every four 17
patients receiving long-term treatment with an antipsychotic medication will experience 18
Tardive Dyskinesia; and 19
WHEREAS, years of difficult and challenging research have resulted in recent 20
scientific breakthroughs, with two new treatments for Tardive Dyskinesia approved by 21
the United States Food and Drug Administration; and 22
WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia is often unrecognized and patients suffering from 23
the illness are commonly misdiagnosed. Regular screening for Tardive Dyskinesia in 24
patients taking DRBA medications is recommended by the American Psychiatric 25
Association; and 26
WHEREAS, by declaring Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, the House of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 22 RS BR 2422
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Representatives can raise awareness of Tardive Dyskinesia in the public and in the 1
medical community; 2
NOW, THEREFORE, 3
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 4
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 5
Section 1. The House of Representatives does hereby designate the week of 6
May 1 to 7, 2022, to be Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. 7
Section 2. The House of Representatives encourages each individual in the 8
United States to be better informed and aware of Tardive Dyskinesia. 9