Schwingenschuh, P; Saifee, TA; Katschnig-Winter, P; Macerollo, A; Koegl-Wallner, M; Culea, V; Ghadery, C; ... Edwards, MJ; + view all Schwingenschuh, P; Saifee, TA; Katschnig-Winter, P; Macerollo, A; Koegl-Wallner, M; Culea, V; Ghadery, C; Hofer, E; Pendl, T; Seiler, S; Werner, U; Franthal, S; Maurits, NM; Tijssen, MA; Schmidt, R; Rothwell, JC; Bhatia, KP; Edwards, MJ; - view fewer (2016) Validation of "laboratory-supported" criteria for functional (psychogenic) tremor. Movement Disorders , 31 (4) pp. 555-562. 10.1002/mds.26525.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: In a small group of patients, we have previously shown that a combination of electrophysiological tests was able to distinguish functional (psychogenic) tremor and organic tremor with excellent sensitivity and specificity. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to validate an electrophysiological test battery as a tool to diagnose patients with functional tremor with a "laboratory-supported" level of certainty. METHODS: For this prospective data collection study, we recruited 38 new patients with functional tremor (mean age 37.9 ± 24.5 years; mean disease duration 5.9 ± 9.0 years) and 73 new patients with organic tremor (mean age 55.4 ± 25.4 years; mean disease duration 15.8 ± 17.7 years). Tremor was recorded at rest, posture (with and without loading), action, while performing tapping tasks (1, 3, and 5 Hz), and while performing ballistic movements with the less-affected hand. Electrophysiological tests were performed by raters blinded to the clinical diagnosis. We calculated a sum score for all performed tests (maximum of 10 points) and used a previously suggested cut-off score of 3 points for a diagnosis of laboratory-supported functional tremor. RESULTS: We demonstrated good interrater reliability and test-retest reliability. Patients with functional tremor had a higher average score on the test battery when compared with patients with organic tremor (3.6 ± 1.4 points vs 1.0 ± 0.8 points; P < .001), and the predefined cut-off score for laboratory-supported functional tremor yielded a test sensitivity of 89.5% and a specificity of 95.9%. CONCLUSION: We now propose this test battery as the basis of laboratory-supported criteria for the diagnosis of functional tremor, and we encourage its use in clinical and research practice. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

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