Dictionary

akathisia en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /æ.kəˈθɪ.si.ə/

Etymology

From a- + Ancient Greek κάθισις (káthisis, “sitting”) + -ia. See also κᾰθῐ́ζω (kăthĭ́zō, “to sit down”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A sensation of restlessness characterized by an inability to sit still/down or remain motionless/seated, arising from a subjective need or desire to move, often coinciding with the sensation of twitching of muscles, often as a side effect of psychiatric medications.
   • Central Nervous System Effects: Neuromuscular (extrapyramidal) reactions: These are usually dosage-related and may be of three forms: (1) pseudoparkinsonism, (2) akathisia (motor restlessness), and (3) dystonias. 1973, Arthur Osol, Robertson Pratt, The United States Dispensatory, volume 27, J.B. Lippincott Company, page 305:
   • Haskowic first described this condition last November and applied the term "Akathisia" to it. The subject can seat himself and remain seated a few minutes, but then the contortions begin, and unless he gets up he suffers actual torture. 1903, American Medical Association, The Journal of the American Medical Association, volume 40, section 1, page 544:

Forms

Deriveds

akathisic

Translations (4)

fi akatisia (sensation of restlessness characterized by an inability to sit still) · cmn 失靜症 /失静症 (sensation of restlessness characterized by an inability to sit still) · id akatisia (sensation of restlessness characterized by an inability to sit still) · pt acatisia (sensation of restlessness characterized by an inability to sit still)