Phobic postural vertigo

Abstract

One hundred and six patients diagnosed between 1987 and 1998 to have somatoform phobic postural vertigo were examined in a follow-up study with a self-evaluating questionnaire. The improvement rate after a mean follow-up time of 8.5 years (5 to 15.9 years) was 75% (27% of the patients reported a complete remission). While the majority of these patients experienced improvement or remission during the first year after assessment of diagnosis and a short-term psychotherapeutic approach, some patients also had considerable improvement even after two or more years. There was a negative correlation between the duration of the condition before assessment of the diagnosis and the improvement/regression rate. The improvement/regression rate was independent of gender, age, preceding vestibular or non-vestibular organic disorders, and the various medical, physical, or psychotherapeutic interventions. Transient relapses occurred in 47% of the improved patients once or repeatedly. The probability of developing a relapse remained constant throughout the entire follow-up. None of the patients required a revision of the initial diagnosis on the basis of the questionnaire.

Residual Dizziness after Successful Repositioning Maneuver for Idiopathic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Review

“…26,27 Anxiety has been demonstrated to play an additional role in dizziness, which may be considered in some cases a somatoform disorder arising from stressful events. 28,29 Some Authors focused on the high rate to get both dizziness and anxiety in the elderly 26,30 Dizziness in the elderly has adverse psychological and social effects due to the decrease of performances in daily living activities and the increase of fear or risk of falling. 31 A recent study confirmed a significant association with older age and anxiety, in particular with higher DHI questionnaire score in emotional domain, which appears to be the most important predictor factor for the occurrence of RD.…”

The Effect of Optokinetic Stimulation on Perceptual and Postural Symptoms in Visual Vestibular Mismatch Patients

“…Although all three disorders might resemble each other very much, they are seen as different entities. VVM, PPV and CSD are often mistaken since all are associated (either primary or secondary) with psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks and even obsessive-compulsive personality traits [ 44 , 51 , 52 ]. PPV is characterized by a persistent sense of unsteadiness or postural imbalance and recurrent dizziness attacks [ 48 , 49 , 51 ].…”

Psychogenic Dizziness: An Important but Overlooked Differential Diagnosis in the Workup of the Dizzy Patient

“…Research suggests that patient education can be a key first step in the therapeutic process. 9,22 Physicians who suspect CSD or a psychogenic origin should discuss psychosocial issues with these patients and the ways in which psychiatric disorders and stress can cause or exacerbate chronic dizziness. For instance, a physician can initiate this conversation by focusing on the topic of stress: "In many patients, stress can also contribute to or worsen dizziness.…”