AIMS?

Specialties LTC Directors

Published

I was asked to review an admission and one section asks it check for AIMS. I think that involves psychotropic drugs but not sure. What exactly constitutes AIMS?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

An AIMS test= abnormal involuntary movement scale. It is given to people who take antipsychotics to try to determine if they have developed EPS...extra pyramidal symptoms.

Our policy is to do an AIMS test before we initiate the first dose of an antipsychotic and every 6 months thereafter. We also do one on admission if anyone is coming in on an antipsychotic.

I don't know why you'd need the AIMS test before admission unless to show the resident already had EPS when you admitted him.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You're right about the involuntary movements and psychotropic drugs parts, but the AIMS isn't intended to measure EPS (extrapyramidal symptoms), which are temporary and treatable -- it's intended to evaluate for tardive dyskinesia, which is the permanent, irreversible neurological damage caused by antipsychotics. The idea is to catch any indications of TD as early as possible so that the medication regimen can be reviewed and changes made, if possible, to prevent or minimize further damage and, eventually, disability, and to continue to track the development/progression of TD sxs over time.

OP, the AIMS test is available as a form with written instructions on how to administer and score it (although it helps to be familiar with the sxs it's measuring). I'm sure it would be pretty easy to track down.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I believe EPS can lead to tardive dyskinesia if not treated...but I could be wrong.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

EPS and TD are both caused by neuroleptic use (antipsychotics and some other related medications), EPS tend to appear earlier than sxs of TD, and the sxs of both resemble each other to some extent, but the two separate, different disorders are not necessarily related to each other. It is entirely possible (common, even) to have either one without the other. EPS are certainly a concern and should be treated, but that doesn't really have anything to do with whether someone is going to (also) develop TD. TD is the really scary one of the two.

(I don't mean to sound like a pain in the butt know-it-all :), but psych has been my specialty for a long time and I know there's a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about this particular subject. I'll shut up now. :)).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Going back to the original post: having EPS or TD wouldn't be a reason to deny someone's admission. And I'm sure the OP learned more than she/he wanted to!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just to clarify my original question, when we get a new admission we have to verify an AIMS test will be conducted if residents are on antipsychotic medications. I was unfamiliar with AIMS so thanks for clarifying.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment