PRINTER'S NO. 679
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
95
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY COLLETT, FONTANA, KEARNEY, PHILLIPS-HILL, HUGHES,
BROWNE, STREET, VOGEL, KANE, STEFANO, SANTARSIERO AND COSTA,
APRIL 27, 2021
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 27, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of May 2 through 8, 2021, as "Tardive
Dyskinesia Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Many peoples with serious, chronic mental illness,
such as schizophrenia and other schizoaffective disorders,
bipolar disorder or severe depression, require treatment with
medications that work as dopamine receptor blocking agents
(DRBAs), including antipsychotics; and
WHEREAS, While ongoing treatment with these medications can
be very helpful, and even lifesaving, for many people, it can
also lead to Tardive Dyskinesia (TD); and
WHEREAS, Many people who have gastrointestinal disorders,
including gastroparesis, nausea and vomiting, also require
treatment with DRBAs; and
WHEREAS, Treatment of gastrointestinal disorders with DRBAs
can be very helpful, but for many patients can lead to TD; and
WHEREAS, TD is a movement disorder that is characterized by
random, involuntary and uncontrolled movements of different
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muscles in the face, trunk and extremities; and
WHEREAS, In some cases, people may experience movement of the
arms, legs, fingers, and toes; and
WHEREAS, In some case, TD may affect the tongue, lips and
jaw; and
WHEREAS, In other cases, symptoms may include swaying
movements of the trunk or hips and may impact the muscles
associated with walking, speech, eating and breathing; and
WHEREAS, TD can develop months, years or decades after a
person starts taking DRBAs and even after they have discontinued
use of those medications; and
WHEREAS, Not everyone who takes a DRBA develops TD, but if it
develops it is often permanent; and
WHEREAS, Common risk factors for TD include advanced age and
alcoholism or other substance abuse disorders; and
WHEREAS, Postmenopausal women and people with a mood disorder
are also higher risk of developing TD; and
WHEREAS, A person is at higher risk for TD after taking DRBAs
for three months or longer, but the longer the person is on
these medications, the higher the risk of developing TD; and
WHEREAS, Studies suggest that overall risk of developing TD
is between 10% and 30%; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that more than 500,000 Americans
suffer from TD; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Alliance for Mental
Illness, one in every four patients receiving long-term
treatment with an antipsychotic medication will experience TD;
and
WHEREAS, Years of difficult and challenging research have
resulted in recent scientific breakthroughs, with two new
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treatments for TD approved by the United States Food and Drug
Administration; and
WHEREAS, TD is often unrecognized and patients suffering from
the illness are commonly misdiagnosed; and
WHEREAS, Regular screening for TD in patients taking DRBAs is
recommended by the American Psychiatric Association; and
WHEREAS, Patients suffering from TD often suffer
embarrassment due to abnormal and involuntary movements, which
leads them to withdraw from society and increasingly isolate
themselves as the disease progresses; and
WHEREAS, Caregivers of patients with TD face many challenges
and are often responsible for the overall care of the TD
patient; and
WHEREAS, the Senate can raise awareness of TD in the public
and medical community; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of May 2, 2021,
as "Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage each individual in
Pennsylvania and the United States to become better informed
about and aware of Tardive Dyskinesia.
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