AIMS
Medical abbreviation · Mental Health & Psychiatry
| Stands for | Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
AIMS stands for Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, a mental health & psychiatry abbreviation.
Twelve-item clinician-rated exam that checks for involuntary movements of the face, lips, jaw, tongue, limbs and trunk, used to detect and monitor tardive dyskinesia in people taking antipsychotics or other dopamine-blocking drugs.
Example: AIMS 4 with mild tongue and lip movements; discuss switching antipsychotic and VMAT2 inhibitor.
Usage notes
Developed by the US National Institute of Mental Health in the 1970s. Guidelines recommend a baseline exam and repeat screening every six to twelve months, more often in high-risk patients. Pronounced like the word "aims".
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.