ASWB Clinical Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Tardive dyskinesia is primarily associated with the nervous system because it is a neurological disorder that results from the long-term use of antipsychotic medications. This condition is characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements, often affecting the face, tongue, and limbs, which are manifestations of dysfunction in the basal ganglia—a group of structures within the brain that coordinate movement.

Antipsychotic medications can block dopamine receptors in the brain, leading to alterations in dopamine signaling. Over time, this disruption can cause the motor control issues associated with tardive dyskinesia. While the muscular system is involved because the movements are involuntary, the root cause of these movements lies within the nervous system's pathways and how they interact with motor control.

Other systems, such as the circulatory and respiratory systems, are not directly impacted by tardive dyskinesia. Thus, the primary system affected is indeed the nervous system, reflecting the underlying issues related to the way that antipsychotics interact with various neural pathways.