E283 - PsychopharmaPearls: When Akathisia Looks Like Agitation with Dr. Leslie Citrome

In this episode of PsychopharmaPearls, Dr. Andy Cutler talks with Dr. Leslie Citrome about akathisia, a common but often misdiagnosed antipsychotic side effect that can look like agitation, anxiety, irritability, or worsening psychiatric symptoms. They discuss how to recognize akathisia in clinical practice, distinguish it from true agitation, identify key timing and symptom clues, and avoid common treatment mistakes, including why benztropine is not an appropriate treatment for akathisia.  Leslie Citrome, MD, MPH, is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at New York Medical College and an internationally recognized expert in psychopharmacology and clinical trial interpretation. He has authored more than 600 scientific publications and frequently lectures on applying research findings to real-world psychiatric practice.  Andrew J. Cutler, MD, is a distinguished psychiatrist and researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and psychopharmacology. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Neuroscience Education Institute and EMA Wellness. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.   Fall Congress   Get $100 off NEI Fall Congress registration with code POD26. Go to https://nei.global/fall to sign up today!   Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast – available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology? Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter