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Query: UMLS:C0040822 (tremor)
 18,428 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A total of 21 patients with psychogenic tremor (PT) were asked to take part in a neurologic and psychosomatic assessment; for 17 patients follow-up information was also recorded. Women out-numbered men in the sample. In the majority of patients the tremor was associated with a variety of other conversion symptoms. The clinical picture of the tremor varied. After beginning exclusively in the extremities, it tended to spread to other parts of the body. Other psychopathology (depression and histrionic personality disorder) existed in almost a third of the sample. Many patients had retired from professional life, or planned to do so in the near future, because of PT. At follow up the initial diagnosis was confirmed in all patients although in some patients additional physical illness had developed during the follow-up period. When neurological and psychiatric/psychosomatic criteria are applied the diagnosis of PT can be established reliably. Studies that have questioned the validity of the conversion concept on the basis of frequent misdiagnoses may indicate problems in the diagnostic procedure rather than an invalid theoretical construct.
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PMID:[Diagnosis, symptoms and follow-up of psychogenic tremor]. 890 Dec 77

Psychogenic movement disorders are a daily challenge for the neurologist. A mistake in its recognition may have important consequences for the patients. As a result, the diagnosis must be considered very carefully in clinical practice. However, psychogenic movement disorders are not unusual, are mainly tremors, and a wrong diagnosis is common. Psychogenic is an unspecific term that usually masks the real mental disorder, and should be called somatoform disorders, factitious disorders, malingering, depression, anxiety and histrionic personality disorder, although the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis does not preclude a psychogenic cause. The diagnosis may often be difficult and should be made by an expert neurologist. Organic movement disorders must be excluded after a detailed neurological history, examination, and appropriate diagnostic studies. Psychogenic tremor is not only a diagnosis of exclusion, it can be diagnosed positively by its neurological signs, mainly: variability in frequency and amplitude, bilateral and sudden onset, non-progressive with frequent remissions, absence of finger, tongue or face tremor and coactivation of antagonistic muscles. Several tests can be useful in diagnosis, such as: accelerometry, EMG and response to placebo or suggestion. The treatment requires close cooperation between the medical team and patient. The problem must never be minimised and early diagnosis and treatment must be attempted.
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PMID:[Psychogenic tremor: a positive diagnosis]. 2038 61