Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)
Document and monitor dyskinetic movements; clinical interpretation required
Reference information · Questionnaire
- Last content update
- 2026-10-26
- Clinical review
- Not independently reviewed
- Source jurisdiction
- See individual sources
- Coverage
- Questionnaire
| Field | Instrument context |
|---|---|
| Version | NIMH ECDEU 1976 original 12-item English form |
| Population | Patients receiving neuroleptic drugs; trained clinician examination |
| Respondent | Clinician-rated |
| Recall period | Period of the examination only |
| Purpose | Document and monitor dyskinetic movements; clinical interpretation required |
Complete Examination Procedure before making ratings. Rate highest severity observed. Rate movements that occur upon activation one less than those observed spontaneously. Either before or after completing the Examination Procedure observe the patient unobtrusively, at rest (e.g., in waiting room). The chair to be used in this examination should be a hard, firm one without arms. 1. Ask patient whether there is anything in his/her mouth (i.e., gum, candy, etc.) and if there is, to remove it. 2. Ask patient about the current condition of his/her teeth. Ask patient if he/she wears dentures. Do teeth or dentures bother patient now? 3. Ask patient whether he/she notices any movements in mouth, face, hands, or feet. If yes, ask to describe and to what extent they currently bother patient or interfere with his/her activities. 4. Have patient sit in chair with hands on knees, legs slightly apart, and feet flat on floor. Look at entire body for movements while in this position. 5. Ask patient to sit with hands hanging unsupported. If male, between legs, if female and wearing a dress, hanging over knees. Observe hands and other body areas. 6. Ask patient to open mouth. Observe tongue at rest within mouth. Do this twice. 7. Ask patient to protrude tongue. Observe abnormalities of tongue movement. Do this twice. 8. Ask patient to tap thumb, with each finger, as rapidly as possible for 10–15 seconds; separately with right hand, then with left hand. Observe facial and leg movements. 9. Flex and extend patient’s left and right arms (one at a time). Note any rigidity and rate on DOTES. 10. Ask patient to stand up. Observe in profile. Observe all body areas again, hips included. 11. Ask patient to extend both arms outstretched in front with palms down. Observe trunk, legs, and mouth. 12. Have patient walk a few paces, turn, and walk back to chair. Observe hands and gait. Do this twice.
NIMH Psychopharmacology Research Branch; Guy (1976), ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology.
Responses stay in this page’s memory. Reset or leave the page to clear them. No patient identifiers are collected.
Interpretation & limitations
- The motor sum uses items 1–7 only. Global severity, incapacitation and patient awareness are displayed separately; dental responses are excluded from numeric outputs.
- Enter examiner-adjusted movement ratings after applying the source activation instruction; the program cannot infer whether a movement was spontaneous.
- There is no combined 12-item total and no automatic diagnosis or treatment recommendation.
- Requires the complete standardized examination and trained clinician judgment.
- The original wording and historical examination instructions are preserved; apply professional judgment to patient communication and examination feasibility.
References · 3
- Guy (1976), NIMH ECDEU Assessment Manual, AIMS form and examination pp.534–537 · Original instrument developed by NIMH Psychopharmacology Research Branch, published as a federal-government instrument in the ECDEU manual; NIMH form credited as public domain.
- UIC clinical service: AIMS source and examination instructions
- FDA clinical review: AIMS motor score and item roles