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Improvements in daily functioning after deep brain stimulation of the thalamus for intractable tremor
Author(s) -
Lyons Kelly E.,
Pahwa Rajesh,
Busenbark Karen L.,
Tröster Alexander I.,
Wilkinson Steve,
Koller William C.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.870130414
Subject(s) - deep brain stimulation , thalamus , essential tremor , stimulation , activities of daily living , thalamic stimulator , psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , audiology , physical therapy , neuroscience , parkinson's disease , disease
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the thalamus reduces tremor in patients with essential tremor (ET). However, few studies have determined the degree of improvement in daily functioning associated with DBS. We developed a selfreport Tremor Activities of Daily Living Scale (TADLS) to compare daily functioning with the stimulator turned on and off. Patients rated their performance on the 30 items of the TADLS with the stimulator turned off and then on. They also performed 10 activities under the supervision of a clinician who rated their functional ability with stimulation off and then on. There was a 58% improvement in self‐rated TADLS scores in patients with DBS with the stimulator on compared with stimulation off. When activities were rated by the clinicain, the average improvement in functioning with the stimulator on was 54%. There were reasonably high correlations between patient and clinician ratings of functioning. ET patients have a marked improvement in daily functioning with thalamic DBS.