Essential tremor is a chronic condition with a slowly progressive course where upper limbs and,less commonly,the head,voice and lower limbs exhibit the postural and kinetic tremor without other neurological abnormalities.164 patients,88 females and 76 males,listed in the database of the Movement Disorders Centre were included in a questionnaire study.The mean age at onset was 46.6 years (1 –83 years).A positive family history was reported in 46 %patients.Alcohol responsiveness was reported in 33 %,43 %of patients chose the „don ’t know “possibility.The most common manifestation was tremor of the upper limbs,followed by the head,voice and lower limbs.18 %of patients suffered from migraine, 17 %reported a history of treatment with levodopa with a total cumulative dose 18 to 2700 g.The questionnaire included spiral drawing that appears to be a suitable method for longitudinal kinetic tremor assessment.

        Key words: essential tremor,familial tremor,alcohol,levodopa,spiral drawing