Essential tremor: clinical characteristics

Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder. However, only a small percentage of people affected by this genetically transmitted neurol ogic disorder seek medical attention. Lack of consensus on the diagnostic c riteria for ET is an impediment to accurate diagnosis and leads to difficul ty in accessing accurate prevalence data. Although a positive family histor y, alcohol sensitivity, and propranolol responsiveness are characteristic o f ET, these factors should not; be considered necessary for the diagnosis o f ET. ET can produce substantial physical and psychosocial disabilities. Th e occasional coexistence of ET and Parkinson's disease (PD) in the same ind ividual may present a diagnostic challenge.