Essential tremor (ET): differential diagnosis
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Essential tremor (ET): differential diagnosis. Enhanced physiologic tremor, Primary orthostatic tremor. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Other tremors
- Enhanced physiologic tremor
- Primary orthostatic tremor
- Task-specific tremors
- Dystonic tremor
- Parkinson's disease (PD) tremor
- Cerebellar tremor
- Holmes’ tremor
- Palatal tremor
- Valproate-induced tremor
- Other drug and toxin-induced tremors
- Neuropathic tremor
- Psychogenic tremor
- See also neurochecklists: “Tremors: medical causes” and “Tremors: drug-induced”
Other movement disorders
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Red flags against essential tremor diagnosis
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References
- Deuschl G, Bain P, Brin M, et al. Consensus statement of the Movement Disorder Society on Tremor Ad Hoc Scientific Committee. Mov Disord 1998; 13(Suppl 3):2-23.
- Paparella G, Angelini L, De Biase A, et al. Clinical and kinematic features of valproate-induced tremor and differences with essential tremor. Cerebellum 2021; 20:374-383.
- Bain P, Brin M, Deuschl G, et al. Criteria for the diagnosis of essential tremor. Neurology 2000; 54(Suppl 4):S7.
- Knudsen K, Lorenz D, Deuschl G. A clinical test for the alcohol sensitivity of essential tremor. Mov Disord 2011; 26:2291-2295.
- Nahab FB, Peckham E, Hallett M. Essential tremor, deceptively simple...Pract Neurol 2007; 7:222-233.
