Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale

AIMS - Assessment of Tardive Dyskinesia

Rate movements that occur upon activation one less than those observed spontaneously.
Complete examination procedure before making ratings.
1

Muscles of Facial Expression

Movements of forehead, eyebrows, periorbital area, cheeks, including frowning, blinking, smiling, grimacing.
How to Examine:
Observe patient's face during conversation and rest. Look for involuntary movements of eyebrows, forehead wrinkling, excessive blinking, or grimacing.
2

Lips and Perioral Area

Puckering, pouting, smacking of lips.
How to Examine:
Observe lip movements during conversation and at rest. Look for lip smacking, puckering, or pouting movements.
3

Jaw

Biting, clenching, chewing, mouth opening, lateral movement.
How to Examine:
Observe jaw movements during conversation and at rest. Look for chewing motions, jaw clenching, or lateral jaw movements.
4

Tongue

Rate only increases in movement both in and out of mouth. NOT inability to sustain movement. Darting in and out of mouth.
How to Examine:
Ask patient to open mouth and observe tongue at rest. Look for darting movements, not normal movements or inability to keep tongue still.
5

Upper Extremity Movements

Arms, wrists, hands, fingers. Include choreic movements (rapid, objectively purposeless, irregular, spontaneous) and athetoid movements (slow, irregular, complex, serpentine). DO NOT INCLUDE TREMOR (repetitive, regular, rhythmic).
How to Examine:
Observe arms and hands at rest and during conversation. Look for irregular, purposeless movements. Exclude tremor or parkinsonian movements.
6

Lower Extremity Movements

Legs, knees, ankles, toes. Examples: lateral knee movement, foot tapping, heel dropping, foot squirming, inversion and eversion of foot.
How to Examine:
Have patient seated and observe legs and feet. Look for involuntary movements while patient is at rest and during conversation.
7

Trunk Movements

Neck, shoulders, hips. Examples: rocking, twisting, squirming, pelvic gyrations.
How to Examine:
Observe patient seated and standing. Look for involuntary movements of the trunk, neck, and shoulders.
8

Severity of Abnormal Movements Overall

Global assessment of the severity of all abnormal movements observed.
How to Examine:
Consider all movements observed and rate the overall severity of the movement disorder.
9

Incapacitation Due to Abnormal Movements

Degree to which abnormal movements interfere with the patient's ability to function.
How to Examine:
Assess how much the movements interfere with daily activities, work, or social functioning.
10

Patient's Awareness of Abnormal Movements

Rate only patient's report. Assess awareness and distress level.
How to Examine:
Ask patient directly about awareness of any unusual movements and how distressing they are.

Dental Status

11. Current problems with teeth and/or dentures?

12. Are dentures usually worn?

13. Edentia (complete absence of teeth)?

14. Do movements disappear in sleep?

0
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