Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy
Open Access

Abstract

Neuropsychological Profile, Quality of Life and Associated Psychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Essential Tremor

Reji Mohan, Jamuna Rajeswaran, Pramod Kumar Pal, Vijay Chandran and Thennarasu Kandavel

Essential tremor (ET), a common a movement disorder, associated with cognitive dysfunction.

Objective: To assess the cognitive function in non-western cohort of patients with ET and correlate with concomitant anxiety, depression and quality of life.

Method: The sample consisted of 30 patients with ET and 30 matched healthy controls. The tools used were socio - demographic data sheet, Edinburgh Handedness inventory, Hospital anxiety and depression rating scales, World Health Organization Quality of life - BREF (QOL) and the NIMHANS Neuropsychological Battery.

Results: The results shows patients with ET performed significantly worse than controls on tests of motor speed, sustained attention, executive functions, learning and memory. In addition, patients with ET had higher measures of anxiety and depression as well as lower measures of QOL.

Conclusion: The current study results support the finding that cognitive deficits along with emotional disturbances and impaired QOL are clinical features of ET.