ABSTRACT
Outcomes of dystonia have been traditionally evaluated using objective clinical indices measuring disease markers such as head movement, shoulder elevation, and tremor. Although such indices provide important data, they are limited as they do not give valuable information regarding patients’ perceptions of their condition. Therefore, patient-reported rating scales are used to measure broader health outcomes such as quality of life (QL). This chapter provides information on dystonia and QL. It has three aims:
1. To provide an introduction to QL. 2. To describe QL research in dystonia. 3. To critically appraise current research with the
view to recommendations for future studies.
