akathisia
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From a- + Ancient Greek κάθισις (káthisis, “sitting”) + -ia. See also κᾰθῐ́ζω (kathízō, “to sit down”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
akathisia (countable and uncountable, plural akathisias)
- (medicine) A sensation of restlessness characterized by an inability to sit still/down or remain motionless/seated, arising from a subjective need or desire to move, often coinciding with the sensation of twitching of muscles, often as a side effect of psychiatric medications.
- 1903, American Medical Association, The Journal of the American Medical Association[1], volume 40, section 1, page 544:
- Haskowic first described this condition last November and applied the term "Akathisia" to it. The subject can seat himself and remain seated a few minutes, but then the contortions begin, and unless he gets up he suffers actual torture.
- 1973, Arthur Osol, Robertson Pratt, The United States Dispensatory[2], volume 27, J.B. Lippincott Company, page 305:
- Central Nervous System Effects: Neuromuscular (extrapyramidal) reactions: These are usually dosage-related and may be of three forms: (1) pseudoparkinsonism, (2) akathisia (motor restlessness), and (3) dystonias.