A 24-year-old woman with schizophrenia presents with acute restlessness, fidgeting, and a feeling of being unable to sit still. She started taking aripiprazole two weeks ago. What could be the possible cause of these symptoms, and what is the recommended intervention?
This patient's symptoms suggest akathisia, a common side effect of antipsychotics like aripiprazole. Options for management include reducing the dosage of the antipsychotic, switching to another antipsychotic with a lower risk for akathisia, or adding a medication to treat the akathisia, such as a beta-blocker or benzodiazepine.