What therapy can be beneficial for a client experiencing tardive dyskinesia after taking haloperidol?

Benzodiazepines can be beneficial for clients experiencing tardive dyskinesia, especially when considering their use for managing anxiety and agitation that may accompany this condition. Tardive dyskinesia is a potential side effect of long-term use of antipsychotic medications like haloperidol, and it manifests as involuntary, repetitive movements, often affecting the face and limbs. While benzodiazepines do not directly treat tardive dyskinesia, they may help alleviate some of the distressing symptoms associated with anxiety that the patient may be experiencing as a result of the movement disorder.

Increasing the dosage of antipsychotics or continuing haloperidol could exacerbate tardive dyskinesia symptoms, leading to further complications. Electroconvulsive therapy, though an effective treatment for severe mood disorders, is not typically indicated for managing tardive dyskinesia and is generally used in different contexts. Thus, benzodiazepines offer a supportive approach for symptom relief in the context of this disorder.