A client with paranoid schizophrenia reports stiffness and shaking after one month on medication. What extrapyramidal side effect is likely?

The likelihood of pseudoparkinsonism in this scenario is significant due to the symptomatology presented by the client. Pseudoparkinsonism refers to a set of extrapyramidal symptoms that mimic the motor disturbances seen in Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness (rigidity), tremors (shaking), and bradykinesia (slowness of movement). These symptoms are typically associated with the use of antipsychotic medications, especially those that have a higher propensity for causing extrapyramidal side effects.

In this case, the client has been on medication for a month and is experiencing stiffness and shaking, indicative of decreased dopamine activity in the nigrostriatal pathway, which is affected by these medications. The onset of such symptoms after a relatively short duration of treatment aligns well with the profile of pseudoparkinsonism, making it a likely extrapyramidal side effect resulting from the medication.

Understanding the nature of these side effects is crucial for managing patients on antipsychotics, allowing for appropriate interventions such as dose adjustment, switching medications, or introducing antidopaminergic agents to alleviate the symptoms.