Analysis on the non-motor symptoms of essential tremor

Abstract

Objective To explore the the characteristics of non-motor symptoms of essential tremor(ET). Methods Totally 50 ET patients and 45 age-gender-matched healthy volunteers, admitted in Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from May 2015 to April 2016, were included.Clinical data and tremor analyses under different postures were obtained.The non-motor symptoms were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI), Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA), Hamilton's Depression Scale(HAMD), and the MOS item short from health survey(SF-36). Cognitive functions were evaluated by the Mini-mental state examination(MMSE). Results ET group had lower MMSE total score of(25.81±2.75 vs.28.16±1.71), increased rate of dyssomnia(62.0% vs.15.6%)and higher PQSI score(6.42±2.71 vs.3.84±2.13)compared with the control group(all P<0.05). Moreover, more patients in the ET group had moderate and severe anxiety(60.0% vs.37.8%), moderate and severe depression(34.0% vs.15.6%)than the control group(both P<0.05). Anxiety and depression had effects on physical and mental health and were also related to the quality of life. Conclusions Non-motor symptoms, such as mild cognitive deficits, depression, anxiety and dyssomnia are common in ET patients.Furthermore, depression and anxiety have negative effects on physical and mental health. Key words: Essential tremor; Depression; Anxiety; Cognition disorders; Nonmotor symptoms