AIMS Calculator
Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale
A 12-item clinician-rated scale for assessing tardive dyskinesia and other abnormal involuntary movements in patients taking antipsychotic medication.
Score the AIMS
Clinical scoring tool for practitioners. Enter observations to calculate the score.
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Unlimited on every paid planSample report
Example of the report delivered to practitioners when this assessment is administered inside Grounded Scribe. Fictional data.
Download sample (PDF)Licensing & Attribution
Source
Guy W. ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology — Revised. US Dept Health, Education, Welfare publication (ADM) 76-338. Rockville, MD: NIMH, 1976:534-537.
License
Public domain. US federal government work (NIMH, 1976). Not subject to copyright.
Terms of Use
Free for individual clinical and educational use. See our Terms of Service.
What is the AIMS?
The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is a 12-item clinician-rated assessment for detecting and monitoring tardive dyskinesia and other abnormal involuntary movements. Developed by the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), it is the standard tool for monitoring movement side effects of antipsychotic medication.
The AIMS assesses involuntary movements in seven body regions (facial, oral, extremity, trunk), plus global severity, incapacitation, patient awareness, and dental status.
How AIMS Scoring Works
Items 1-7 assess movements in specific body regions on a 0-4 severity scale (None to Severe). Items 8-10 provide global ratings. Items 11-12 assess dental status.
The primary score is the sum of items 1-7 (movement items), ranging from 0 to 28. Guy (1976, NIMH) published the AIMS without total-score severity cutoffs. The authoritative criterion for probable tardive dyskinesia is the Schooler-Kane criterion (Schooler & Kane, 1982): a score of ≥2 on at least two movement items, OR a score of ≥3 on any single movement item, combined with ≥3 months of antipsychotic exposure.
The AIMS examination follows a standardised observation protocol to ensure consistent assessment.
Clinical Applications
The AIMS is used for baseline assessment before starting antipsychotics, regular monitoring during treatment (typically every 3-6 months on stable doses, more frequently with dose changes), and when patients report abnormal movements.
Early detection of tardive dyskinesia is critical as the condition may be irreversible. The AIMS provides a standardised framework for systematic monitoring.
AIMS in Australian Practice
The AIMS is the standard tool for monitoring tardive dyskinesia in Australian psychiatric services. Australian clinical guidelines for antipsychotic prescribing recommend regular AIMS assessments for all patients on long-term antipsychotic medication.
As a US federal government work (NIMH, 1976), the AIMS is in the public domain.
Use the AIMS inside Grounded Scribe
Registered practitioners can administer the AIMS to clients, track scores across sessions, and auto-document results into clinical notes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the AIMS
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References
- Guy W. ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology — Revised. US Dept Health, Education, Welfare publication (ADM) 76-338. Rockville, MD: NIMH, 1976:534-537.
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