Sociodemographic and treatment related variables are poor predictors of haloperidol induced motor side effects

► Drugs such as haloperidol are fundamental in integrated treatment of psychosis but they cause side effects. ► Haloperidol may cause motor side effects, enhancing the risk of treatment discontinuation. ► Forecasting who will suffer the side effect would improve the clinical practice. ► Age, haloperidol plasma levels and gender have been inconsistently proved to be such predictors. ► Dystonia was predicted by age and gender in our sample in early phases of treatment. ► Haloperidol plasma levels were not associated with motor side effect in our sample.