Which of the following is an extrapyramidal symptom caused by antipsychotic medications?

Dystonia is indeed an extrapyramidal symptom associated with the use of antipsychotic medications. Extrapyramidal symptoms generally refer to drug-induced movement disorders that include symptoms such as rigidity, bradykinesia, tremors, and dystonia. Dystonia specifically manifests as sustained muscle contractions, abnormal postures, or involuntary movements, often occurring shortly after the initiation of antipsychotic treatment or after dosage increases.

This phenomenon is particularly relevant with first-generation (typical) antipsychotics, which are known to have a higher propensity for causing these types of symptoms due to their dopamine antagonism in the basal ganglia, a brain area involved in movement control. Understanding this is crucial for practitioners, as recognizing these symptoms early can lead to prompt management and prevention of further complications for patients on antipsychotic treatment.

In contrast, delirium, hyperglycemia, and serotonin syndrome reflect different clinical conditions and are not classified as extrapyramidal symptoms. Delirium is an acute confusional state, hyperglycemia pertains to elevated blood sugar levels, and serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition resulting from excess serotonin in the brain, often associated with certain antidepressants rather than antipsychotics