ABNORMAL INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT SCALE (AIMS)
Public Health Service NAME:__________________________________________
Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration DATE: _____________________________
National Institute of Mental Health Prescribing Practitioner: ___________________________
CODE: 0 = None
1 = Minimal, may be extreme normal
INSTRUCTIONS: 2 = Mild
Complete Examination Procedure (attachment d.) 3 = Moderate
before making ratings 4 - Severe
MOVEMENT RATINGS: Rate highest severity observed. Rate RATER RATER RATER RATER
movements that occur upon activation one less than those observed
spontaneously. Circle movement as well as code number that Date Date Date Date
applies.
Facial and 1. Muscles of Facial Expression 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
Oral e.g. movements of forehead, eyebrows
Movements periorbital area, cheeks, including frowning
blinking, smiling, grimacing
2. Lips and Perioral Area 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
e.g., puckering, pouting, smacking
3. Jaw e.g. biting, clenching, chewing, mouth 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
opening, lateral movement
4. Tongue Rate only increases in movement
both in and out of mouth. NOT inability to 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 O 1 2 3 4
sustain movement. Darting in and out of
mouth.
5. Upper (arms, wrists,, hands, fingers)
Include choreic movements (i.e., rapid,
Extremity objectively purposeless, irregular,
Movements spontaneous) athetoid movements (i.e., slow, 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
irregular, complex, serpentine). DO NOT
INCLUDE TREMOR (i.e., repetitive,
regular, rhythmic)
6. Lower (legs, knees, ankles, toes)
e.g., lateral knee movement, foot tapping,
heel dropping, foot squirming, inversion and 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
eversion of foot.
Trunk 7. Neck, shoulders, hips e.g., rocking, 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
Movements twisting, squirming, pelvic gyrations
8. Severity of abnormal movements overall 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
Global 9. Incapacitation due to abnormal 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
Judgments movements
10. Patient’s awareness of abnormal
movements. Rate only patient’s report
No awareness 0 0 0 0 0
Aware, no distress 1 1 1 1 1
Aware, mild distress 2 2 2 2 2
Aware, moderate distress 3 3 3 3 3
Aware, severe distress 4 4 4 4 4
11. Current problems with teeth and/or
Dental Status dentures No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes
No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes
12. Are dentures usually worn?
No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes
13. Edentia?
No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes
14. Do movements disappear in sleep?
Final: 9/2000
