Abstract
Psychogenic tremor is probably the most common of the psychogenic movement disorders and may have different clinical presentations. The following clinical features suggest psychogenic tremor: (1) sudden onset and/or remission of the tremor; (2) unusual combinations of rest, postural, and action tremors; (3) reduced tremor frequency and amplitude when distracted, such as when asked to carry out repetitive voluntary movements of the contralateral hand; (4) entrainment of tremor frequency to match the frequency of a repetitive task performed in another limb; (5) previous history of somatization; and (6) the appearance of other unexplained neurologic signs. Almost 75% of presenting patients are female.
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The patient exhibits an irregular, large amplitude tremor of her right hand and fingers which is present at rest, in various postures, and during action. Tremor amplitude and frequency are variable. Sometimes the tremor ceases spontaneously and while she is being distracted with other motor tasks. Tremor entrainment occurs when she is asked to open and close her opposite hand.
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Bhidayasiri, R., Tarsy, D. (2012). Psychogenic Tremor. In: Movement Disorders: A Video Atlas. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-426-5_35
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-426-5_35
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Publisher Name: Humana, Totowa, NJ
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