Accelerometry to distinguish psychogenic from essential or parkinsonian tremor

Neurology. 2003 Aug 26;61(4):548-50. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000076183.34915.cd.

Abstract

The authors measured postural wrist tremor with accelerometry in patients with psychogenic (n = 6), essential (n = 11), and parkinsonian (n = 12) tremor. Tremor was measured in one hand, while the other hand either rested or tapped to an auditory stimulus at 3 and 4 or 5 Hz. Psychogenic tremors showed larger tremor frequency changes and higher intraindividual variability while tapping. Accelerometry may differentiate psychogenic from essential and parkinsonian tremor.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acceleration*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electromyography
  • Electrophysiology / methods*
  • Essential Tremor / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / complications
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis*
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Tremor / diagnosis*
  • Tremor / etiology
  • Tremor / psychology