A syndrome characterized by an inability to remain in a sitting posture, with motor restlessness and a feeling of muscularquivering; may appear as a side effect of antipsychotic, neuroleptic medication and certain anti-emetic drugs that blockdopamine (i.e. metoclopramide, prochlorperazine). Akathisia may range in intensity from a mild sense of disquiet oranxiety (which may be easily overlooked) to a total inability to sit still with overwhelming anxiety and severe dysphoria(manifesting as an almost indescribable sense of terror and doom). In the most severe cases, dysphoria can be so severethat the patient is literally compelled to take action, leading, possibly, to suicide attempts. It is not unknown to havepatients literally run out of a hospital or emergency room. Syn: acathisia, akathesia.