[Psychogenic tremor]

Abstract

Psychogenic tremor is the most common psychogenic movement disorder and accounts for up to 40 % of all psychogenic movement disorders. Patients suffering from psychogenic tremor may show positive clinical criteria like acute onset, distractibility, inconsistent frequency and amplitude of tremor or an intermittent occurrence. Moreover, there exist a few supportive clinical tests and diagnostic tools, which help to suggest a psychogenic origin of the disease, e. g., electromyographic or kinematic recordings. In this review the clinical presentation of psychogenic tremor and diagnostic approaches are discussed. In addition, novel therapeutic approaches, e. g., application of transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques are introduced.