For nearly four years, Kiara Bess, a 29-year-old aspiring nurse and mother of two, struggled with uncontrollable movements that progressively took over her body. Her symptoms, which included severe head and neck jerking, frequent eye blinking, excruciating migraines, and declining speech ability, became unbearable in 2023.
“I was scared,” Bess recalls. “It was the worst experience I’ve ever had; I couldn’t control my own body. I felt like I was losing myself.”
Bess had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a condition combining schizophrenia and mood disorder symptoms. She had been on antipsychotic medications for years — standard treatment but also a common trigger for tardive dyskinesia. This neurological disorder causes involuntary movements often affecting the face, tongue, and limbs.
Pregnant with her third child, Bess found it difficult to find medical care due to the complexity of her situation. Her turning point came when she met Dr. Swati Pradeep from UTHealth Houston.
“Dr. Pradeep truly listened to me and didn’t treat me like I was imagining things,” said Bess. “She took her time. She knew what she was talking about, and I could breathe a sigh of relief.”
Dr. Pradeep confirmed Bess's diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia and identified another movement disorder: dystonia. This condition leads to involuntary muscle contractions causing twisting movements or abnormal postures.
Pradeep's team at UTHealth Houston Movement Disorders Subspeciality Clinic researched treatments ensuring safety for both Bess and her unborn child.
“We were able to safely initiate treatment during her pregnancy, significantly reducing the severity of her headaches and neck movements,” said Pradeep. “After she gave birth, we adjusted her treatment plan further to improve her symptoms."
The team treated dystonia with botulinum toxin (Botox injections) during pregnancy and introduced medication for tardive dyskinesia postpartum.
“For the first time in years, I felt like myself again,” Bess said.
Dr. Pradeep highlighted that tardive dyskinesia affects at least 800,000 adults in the U.S., yet an estimated 60% remain undiagnosed.
“Kiara’s story illustrates the suffering that tardive dyskinesia can cause," she said.
Today, Bess is focused on raising her three children and receives Botox injections every three months while continuing medication therapy.
“I had reached a point where I felt hopeless," Bess said. "Now...I’m Kiara again.”
Bess aspires to return to nursing school one day soon with hopes of specializing in pediatrics focusing on oncology or neurology.
“Compassionate care can make a huge difference," she noted about Dr. Pradeep's impact on her life.
