This sourcebook has been created for patients who have decided to make education and Internet-based research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it also tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to tropical spastic paraparesis, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on tropical spastic paraparesis. Following an introductory chapter, the sourcebook is organized into three parts. PART I: THE ESSENTIALS; Chapter 1. The Essentials on Tropical Spastic Paraparesis: Guidelines; Chapter 2. Seeking Guidance; Chapter 3. Clinical Trials and Tropical Spastic Paraparesis; PART II: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCED MATERIAL; Chapter 4. Studies on Tropical Spastic Paraparesis; Chapter 5. Books on Tropical Spastic Paraparesis; Chapter 6. Multimedia on Tropical Spastic Paraparesis; Chapter 7. Physician Guidelines and Databases; Chapter 8. Dissertations on Tropical Spastic Paraparesis; PART III. APPENDICES; Appendix A. Researching Your Medications; Appendix B. Researching Alternative Medicine; Appendix C. Researching Nutrition; Appendix D. Finding Medical Libraries; Appendix E. Your Rights and Insurance; ONLINE GLOSSARIES; TROPICAL SPASTIC PARAPARESIS GLOSSARY; INDEX. Related topics include: HTLV-1 associated myelopathy.