title: Accuracy of reported family histories of essential tremor.
abstract: We studied the accuracy of reported family histories of essential tremor (ET) by questioning the patients in our clinic and subsequently by mail and phone. For individuals who continued to report a negative family history, we mailed a screening questionnaire to their first-degree relatives to further ascertain the presence of ET. On initial assessment, 67.7% of patients reported a positive family history of ET, but following all assessments, 96.0% of patients had a positive family history. We conclude that a negative family history of ET is often inaccurate, and that ET is primarily a hereditary disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7314, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Busenbark
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ince
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villagra
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Koller
mesh_terms: D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014202:Tremor / Q000235:genetics*