ET Stigma Response to Tremor Suppression
Recruiting now
Conditions studied: Action Tremor, Stigma, Social
In brief
Essential Tremor (ET) is prevalent, affecting approximately 3% of the adult population. Involuntary shaking of the hands during action is a prominent feature, interfering with feeding and writing and other manual tasks. The involuntary movement is visible to observers, some of whom misinterpret the shakiness as manifestation of anxiety or instability, while some other observers attribute it to alcohol or drug use. The psychological effects of resulting stigma on quality of life for people with ET can rival the physical difficulties caused by the condition. For this study, we propose to measure 1 year after effective tremor suppression following thalamotomy with high intensity focused ultrasound changes from baseline in psychological distress and social dysfunction related to ET stigma, and to correlate change from baseline with improvement in functional status related to tremor and in objective measures of tremor severity. We hope to discover that ET stigma is largely reversible when tremor is effectively treated, and we aim to learn what degree of tremor suppression correlates with substantial psychological relief. We will also determine if ET stigma is predominantly helped by unilateral dominant-hand treatment, or if the second side treatment is necessary to accomplish most benefit.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07430761
- Run by
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- People needed
- 220
- Starts
- 2025-01-01
- Expected to finish
- 2027-08-30
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-02-24
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- People with ET as diagnosed by a movement disorder neurologist
- Tremor of sufficient severity and impact on quality of life so as to justify a lesional brain procedure
- Competent to consent to undergoing high intensity focused ultrasound thalamotomy targeted by 4-tract tractography
- Provide verbal informed consent to this study of ET stigma
You may not qualify if…
- Patient declines to participate in this observational study
Where it is running
- University of Texas Soouthwestern Medical Center — Dallas, Texas, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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