Hysterical tremor, also called psychogenic tremor, occurs equally in old and young patients. Taking its name from psychology, its most prominent feature is its tendency to diminish or disappear entirely when the patient ceases to focus his or her attention on the tremor. Task-specific tremors include writing tremor, vocal tremor and orthostatic tremor, which affects the legs only. Although various treatments are available to help persons suffering with tremor, which treatment will work best with a given patient depends substantially upon the particular type of tremor the patient has and what underlying problems may be causing it. Patients whose tremor is caused by Parkinson's disease can be treated with anticholinergic drugs such as Artane.
Drug therapy is available for other types of tremor, as well.
Physical therapy may prove helpful to persons whose tremors cannot be treated with, or do not respond to, drug therapy. It may involve strengthening the muscles around those affected by a tremor, or teaching the patient to brace the parts of the body affected by a tremor. In specific cases of severe tremor, brain surgery, such as thalamotomy, may be a viable option. Research The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke conducts physiological studies of tremor patients, such as determining classes of tremor and providing corresponding therapies. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders also conducts research that is relevant to the study of tremor.