Commentary on the Modified Rogers Scale and the ‘Conflict of Paradigms' Hypothesis

The variety and complexity of schizophrenic movement disorders renders them difficult to assess. In particular, the complex disorders of motility that appear to reflect disturbance of the will demand an evaluation of the purpose of the movement. The difficulties of assessment are compounded by the fact that the antipsychotic drugs used to treat the illness can produce motor disorders that resemble the disorders intrinsic to the illness. In advancing his ‘conflict of paradigms' hypothesis, Rogers (1985) implied that emphasis on the distinction between intrinsic and drug-induced movement disorders might be misplaced because of overlap not only in the observable characteristics of these disorders, but also in the underlying neuropathology.