The effectiveness of beta-blockers in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced akathisia (NIA) suggests that beta-adrenergic overactivity is involved in the manifestation of NIA. As an approach to understanding this postulated overactivity, we investigated the beta 2-receptor density on mononuclear blood cells in 21 patients suffering from NIA as well as in 12 patients without NIA. The beta 2-receptor density in NIA-positive patients was significantly higher than that in NIA-negative patients (t = 2.84; p = .008). The NIA-positive patients were treated with 20 mg propranolol t.i.d. for 5 days. The beta 2-receptor density in treatment responders did not differ significantly from that in non-responders. Our results indicate that beta 2-receptors on mononuclear cells in patients with NIA may be of a certain degree of importance. With the prerequisites of replicability as well as correlation of this parameter with therapeutic success of beta-blockers, it may be considered as a predictor for treatment response.