AIMS

AIMS is a 12-item instrument assessing abnormal involuntary movements associated with antipsychotic drugs, such as tardive dystonia and chronic akathisia, as well as ’spontaneous’ motor disturbance related to the illness itself. Scoring the AIMS consists of rating the severity of movement in three main anatomic areas (facial/oral, extremities, and trunk), based on a five-point scale (0=none, 4=severe). It is appropriate for patients with severe psychiatric illness who may be experiencing dyskinetic movement, usually as a consequence of antipsychotic treatment. It is administered by a trained clinician.

Benefits of the AIMS:

• Benchmark scale for assessment and recording of tardive dyskinesia.
• Global use – AIMS is probably the most widely-used assessment tool to establish the presence and severity of involuntary movements.
• Standard procedure – Because of its design and simple/short assessment time, AIMS can easily be integrated into a routine clinical evaluation by clinician or other trained rater (psychiatric nurse).
• Quick – Easily accommodated within outpatient clinic appointment.
• Inter-rater reliability – AIMS has been established as a reliable assessment tool.
• The consistent and timely application of the AIMS provides an objective record of the presence/absence of dyskinetic movements over time, which may prove important in the light of the trend towards litigation in this area.