Table 1

Aetiological classification of tremor

Normal tremor

  • Normal (physiological) tremor

  • Enhanced physiological tremor (e.g. anxiety)

Pathological tremors

  • Enhanced physiological tremor (e.g. hyperthyroidism)

  • Essential tremor—hereditary or sporadic

  • Parkinson's disease and other causes of parkinsonism

  • The dystonic tremor syndromes

  • Drug induced tremors or drug withdrawal states

  • Multiple sclerosis associated tremor

  • Neuropathic tremor, including porphyrias

  • Holmes' tremor (midbrain or rubral)

  • Primary writing tremor and other task specific tremors

  • Primary orthostatic tremor

  • Cerebellar tremors

  • Post-traumatic tremor

  • Cerebrovascular disease

  • Psychogenic