Abstract
Background: Dizziness is a common and disabling symptom in primary care practice, especially among the elderly. Though there are many organic causes of dizziness, the results of medical workups are negative in the majority of patients. Methods: A total of 75 patients with dizziness who were referred to a community otolaryngology practice received a structured psychiatric diagnostic interview (National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule) and questionnaires that assessed psychological distress as well as a complete otologic evaluation, including electronystagmogram. Patients with evidence of a peripheral vestibular disorder were compared with those without such evidence. Results: While psychiatric diagnoses were present in both those with and without evidence of a peripheral vestibular disorder, those without such evidence had a greater mean number of lifetime psychiatric diagnoses as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition, and specifically, a greater life-time prevalence of major depression and panic disorder. This group also more frequently met criteria for somatization disorder, had more current and lifetime unexplained medical symptoms, and had more severe current depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Conclusions: Psychiatric diagnoses are common among patients with dizziness referred for otologic evaluation who do not show evidence of a peripheral vestibular disorder. Specific psychiatric disorders should be part of the differential diagnosis of patients who present with dizziness.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1479-1484 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Archives of Internal Medicine |
| Volume | 153 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 28 1993 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
Cite this
Psychiatric and Otologic Diagnoses in Patients Complaining of Dizziness. / Sullivan, Mark; Clark, Michael; Katon, Wayne J.; Fischl, Mark; Russo, Joan; Dobie, Robert A.; Voorhees, Richard.
In: Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 153, No. 12, 28.06.1993, p. 1479-1484.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychiatric and Otologic Diagnoses in Patients Complaining of Dizziness
AU - Sullivan, Mark
AU - Clark, Michael
AU - Katon, Wayne J.
AU - Fischl, Mark
AU - Russo, Joan
AU - Dobie, Robert A.
AU - Voorhees, Richard
PY - 1993/6/28
Y1 - 1993/6/28
N2 - Background: Dizziness is a common and disabling symptom in primary care practice, especially among the elderly. Though there are many organic causes of dizziness, the results of medical workups are negative in the majority of patients. Methods: A total of 75 patients with dizziness who were referred to a community otolaryngology practice received a structured psychiatric diagnostic interview (National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule) and questionnaires that assessed psychological distress as well as a complete otologic evaluation, including electronystagmogram. Patients with evidence of a peripheral vestibular disorder were compared with those without such evidence. Results: While psychiatric diagnoses were present in both those with and without evidence of a peripheral vestibular disorder, those without such evidence had a greater mean number of lifetime psychiatric diagnoses as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition, and specifically, a greater life-time prevalence of major depression and panic disorder. This group also more frequently met criteria for somatization disorder, had more current and lifetime unexplained medical symptoms, and had more severe current depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Conclusions: Psychiatric diagnoses are common among patients with dizziness referred for otologic evaluation who do not show evidence of a peripheral vestibular disorder. Specific psychiatric disorders should be part of the differential diagnosis of patients who present with dizziness.
AB - Background: Dizziness is a common and disabling symptom in primary care practice, especially among the elderly. Though there are many organic causes of dizziness, the results of medical workups are negative in the majority of patients. Methods: A total of 75 patients with dizziness who were referred to a community otolaryngology practice received a structured psychiatric diagnostic interview (National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule) and questionnaires that assessed psychological distress as well as a complete otologic evaluation, including electronystagmogram. Patients with evidence of a peripheral vestibular disorder were compared with those without such evidence. Results: While psychiatric diagnoses were present in both those with and without evidence of a peripheral vestibular disorder, those without such evidence had a greater mean number of lifetime psychiatric diagnoses as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition, and specifically, a greater life-time prevalence of major depression and panic disorder. This group also more frequently met criteria for somatization disorder, had more current and lifetime unexplained medical symptoms, and had more severe current depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Conclusions: Psychiatric diagnoses are common among patients with dizziness referred for otologic evaluation who do not show evidence of a peripheral vestibular disorder. Specific psychiatric disorders should be part of the differential diagnosis of patients who present with dizziness.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027161329&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0027161329&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/archinte.1993.00410120059008
DO - 10.1001/archinte.1993.00410120059008
M3 - Article
C2 - 8512438
AN - SCOPUS:0027161329
VL - 153
SP - 1479
EP - 1484
JO - JAMA Internal Medicine
JF - JAMA Internal Medicine
SN - 2168-6106
IS - 12
ER -