Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Dizziness

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine AND Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine AND Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 General Practitioner, Researcher, Medical Students Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 Student of Medicine, School of Medicine AND Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Dizziness is one of the most commonly occurring chief complaints in neurology. The aim of this study was to differentiate patients with dizziness according to organic and somatoform vertigo and evaluate the relationship of dizziness/vertigo symptoms with psychological symptoms in patients with chronic vertigo and dizziness.Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted on 18- to 65-year-old referred to two neurology outpatient clinics in the city of Isfahan, Iran, during 2012-2013. Patients completed the symptom check-list (SCL-90-R), and vertigo symptom scale-short form (VSS-SF).Findings: During the study period, 179 patients (mean age: 30.9 ± 0.1 years, 81.7% women) were included. In 74.3% of the patients (n = 133) dizziness was of organic and in 25.7% (n = 46) of nonorganic origin. Compared with the organic group, the patients with nonorganic dizziness had much more scores on SCL-90-R.Conclusion: The results indicates that psychological symptoms are associated with dizziness symptoms in patients with psychiatric disorders and it should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with chronic dizziness. Hence, in cases of dizziness disorders, early interdisciplinary cooperation is both helpful and essential during diagnostic work-up to include signs of somatic and psychosomatic origin and perevent chronification and reduce the severe handicap, and incurring high medical costs.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 31, Issue 229 - Serial Number 229
January and February 2013
Pages 332-342

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History

  • Receive Date: 01 May 2013
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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