Interpreting the AIMS Score

Explanation: Although the AIMS is not a diagnostic tool, criteria indicating possible tardive dyskinesia have been proposed. A Delphi panel consensus study of the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of TD conducted with 29 experts (23 psychiatrists and 6 neurologists) agreed that a patient having a rating of at least mild (≥2 on the AIMS) affecting 1 body area should be considered as possibly having TD.¹ Importantly, although AIMS scores can provide reliable information about the severity of TD movements, factors such as the patient’s psychiatric status, insight, subjective well-being, quality of life, and social or occupational burden also need to be considered as part of a comprehensive assessment.²