Psychogenic Dizziness : The psychiatric diagnosis and vestibular function tests

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Psychogenic dizziness has not been studied extensively in Korea while it is seen frequently. We investigated the prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis and the results of vestibular function testings in patients with the diagnosis of psychogenic dizziness at a Korean tertiary university hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 38 patients with the diagnosis of psychogenic dizziness. They all received vestibular function testings (ENG, rotating chair test and posturography). Patients with central or vestibular organic disease were excluded from this study. RESULTS: Somatoform disorder was the most common psychiatric disorder causing psychogenic vertigo(47.4%) in this study. Anxiety disorder(21.1%) and depression(21.1%) were the next common causes. The vestibular function testings were abnormal in 19 patients(50.0%). The electronystagmography in 11, rotating chair test in 6, and posturography in 14 patients were abnormal. CONCLUSIONS: Somatoform disorder was the most common psychiatric disorder and vestibular function tests were abnormal in 50% of psychogenic dizziness patients. It implies that the patients with psychogenic dizziness have functional abnormalities in vestibular system.