Dizziness: Anxiety, health care utilization and health behavior—

Summary & key facts

This representative German survey of 1,287 people (ages 14–90) found that 15.8% reported dizziness. Of those with dizziness, 28.3% had symptoms of at least one anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety, social phobia, or panic). People with dizziness also reported more physical health problems, and when anxiety was present they used more health care and felt more impaired.

Key facts:

• The study surveyed 1,287 people in Germany aged 14–90 in their homes by the end of 2006.
• 15.8% of participants reported symptoms of dizziness.
• Among participants who reported dizziness, 28.3% reported symptoms of at least one anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety, social phobia, or panic).
• People who reported dizziness also reported more somatic (physical) problems, including hypertension, migraine, and diabetes.
• When anxiety occurred alongside dizziness, it was associated with increased health care use and greater subjective impairment related to the dizziness.
• Data were collected by trained interviewers using standardized self-report questionnaires (including the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Mini-Social Phobia Inventory, and the Vertigo Symptom Scale).
• The sample was designed to be representative of the German population for age, sex, and education.
• The authors stated that treatment of some neurotologic disorders can reduce psychological symptoms, and they suggested early neurologic and psychiatric/psychotherapeutic referral may be indicated to avoid unnecessary medical treatment.

Topics

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics Vestibular and auditory disorders

Categories

Life Sciences Neurology Neuroscience

Tags

Anxiety Anxiety disorder Clinical psychology Distress Environmental health Generalized anxiety disorder Medicine Panic Panic disorder Population Psychiatry Psychology