Objective: To study the life quality indicators and psycho-social adaptation of patients with ET.

Background: Essential tremor (ET) is a frequent  movement disorders in the world. ET is no longer considered as a monosymptomatic disease, accompanied only by movement disorders, but it is accompanied by changes in the cognitive sphere, the presence of significant labor and social maladjustment.

Method: The observed group consisted of 20 subjects (mostly women 65%) who were residents of Almaty city , Republic of Kazakhstan.  The average age of the patients at the time of the study was 64.05±1.2 years, the duration of the disease was 7.8±2.3 years. The age of onset of the disease was 52.8±2.9 years. To assess the quality of life, Quality of Life in Essential Tremor Questionnaire (QUEST) and a social disadaptation questionnaire related to tremor were used, consisting 9 questions, helped in assessing the extent to which tremor in different parts of the body affects the overall quality of life and the social adaptation.

Results: As a result of the quality of life study in patients with ET, 75% had impaired eating habits, changes in handwriting wa noted in 90% of subjects. The general quality of life was estimated by 10% of patients for 100 points (0-100p), 20% of patients by 50p., 70% within 70-90p. 54.5% of patients for the period of development of tremor stopped working, 33% of these patients made a decision due to an increase in psychological discomfort, 16% due to marked motor impairment, and in 50% of cases due to a combination of psychological discomfort and functional impairment. At the time of the development of the tremor, 70% patients had either stopped working, ether the severity of the tremor did not affect the decision to quit the job. Tremor also led to a reduction in hobby time in 55%, due to psychological discomfort in 4% and severe motor problems in 41%. 50% of patients did not socialize because of the existing tremor, 48% of them combined with pronounced negative emotions associated with tremor.

Conclusion: We concluded that the level of quality of life of patients with ET is determined by both the severity of tremor and the structure of the disturbance of daily activity. Patients with ET as a whole are characterized by medium and low scores of their quality of life. The obtained results confirm the significant negative impact of tremor on the social adaptation of patients, caused psychological discomfort.

References: [1]. http://n.neurology.org/content/89/12/1291-Quality improvement in neurology Essential Tremor Quality Measurement Set, Theresa A. Zesiewicz, Kelly L. Sullivan, Marcus Ponce de Leon, Anna D. Hohler. First published August 23, 2017. [2].Deuschl G., Bain P.G., Brin M.; Ad Hoc Scientific Committee. Consensus statement of the Movement Disorder Society on tremor/Mov. Dis ord.1998.V.13.P.2-3. [3].Fahn S., Tolosa E., Marin C. Clinical rating scale for tremor/Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders/Ed. by J. Jankovic, E. Tolosa. Baltimore-Munich: Urban&Schwarzenberg.1988.P.225-234. [4].Assessing tremor severity/P.G.Bain[et al.] Neurol.Neurosurg. Psychiatry1993.Vol.56 (8). P.868-873. [5].Quality of life in Essential Tremor Questionnaire(QUEST):Development and initial validation, A.I.TrösteraRajeshPahwabJulie A.FieldscCaroline M.TannerdKelly E.Lyonsb [6].Quality of Life in Essential Tremor Questionaire Quest) /https://www.movementdisorders.org/MDS…Scales/QUEST.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/quality-of-life-indicators-and-psycho-social-adaptation-of-patients-with-essential-tremor/