Coping with Essential Tremor

who we are | history | board, council, staff

@essential tremor.org: about IETF: History

	IETF, an international non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that derives its support entirely from its membership and the general public, was founded in 1988 and is guided by a board of directors and a medical advisory council. The organization's membership consists of patients, physicians, educators, parents, relatives and volunteers who provide education, community services and funding to help support tremor research. IETF is also a source of reliable information for patients, families and physicians worldwide, maintaining an extensive international referral service. This service is composed of knowledgeable movement disorder neurologists who assist patients and families in receiving correct diagnoses and treatment. These physicians offer quality treatment plans that include access to various pharmaceutical and surgical approaches to tremor control. IETF also assists in the formation of local, independent support groups. Patients are encouraged to attend because the group can offer the patient additional local sources of support, as well as help them learn how to cope with the activities of daily living. We publish a quarterly newsletter designed primarily for patient and family education. Articles are written in layman's language discussing recent advances in research and giving answers to questions of general interest to members. Some newsletter issues also summarize ongoing research or include articles about specific aspects of tremor, articles that are written by IETF medical advisers and their colleagues. There are also articles written by specialists with suggestions on coping with the various problems associated with ET, as well as the clinical treatment of ET. Funds raised over operating costs are used to support neurological research and public awareness. Extensive marketing is currently being done to educate the public about ET. Neurological research is supported in the form of small seed grants to established scientists whose primary interest is tremor disorders. IETF funds this program in the hope that these scientists will collect sufficient published data to help them qualify for future federal funding. Patients and/or family members can obtain up-to-date information directly from IETF, including an introductory packet that consists of a sample newsletter, a suggested reading list, a membership form, a booklet entitled "An Introduction to Essential Tremor" and a membership form.