The Austrian Dystonia Society (ÖDG) was founded by Ms. Christa E. Hafenscher at the suggestion and with the support of Mr. Univ. Prof. Eduard Auff (Board of the University Clinic for Neurology, Vienna) founded it as a registered association in October 1995. Since then, the company has been supported by well-known doctors in the form of a scientific advisory board. Our special thanks also go to the former Finance Minister Dkfm. Ferdinand Lacina, who took over the patronage of the Austrian Dystonia Society in 1999. The Austrian Dystonia Society is internationally networked as a member of the European Dystonia Federation (EDF) based in Brussels. There are close contacts with all European Dystonia Societies, in particular with the German Dystonia Society (DDG) and the Swiss Dystonia Society (SDG). Our partner organization in the USA is the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation in Chicago, which provides us with informative support with the latest scientific results. As the Austrian Dystonia Society, we are the umbrella organization for all dystonia self-help groups (SHG) in Austria.