Neurologic and Psychiatric Conditions May Lead to Chronic Dizziness

Chronic dizziness means dizziness from an unknown cause that lasts for three months or longer. It may be due to common syndromes including anxiety disorders, migraine, and traumatic brain injuries and each of these will require a different treatment approach.

The results of a large study reported in the February 2007 Archives of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery found that 59.7% of patients referred for evaluation of chronic dizziness were diagnosed with anxiety disorders. The most common anxiety disorder that chronic subjective dizziness (CSD) patients had was panic disorder.

Other central nervous system conditions were also common. Migraine was diagnosed in 16.7% and postconcussion syndrome was diagnosed in 15.1% of CSD patients.

Researchers noted that patients with postconcussion syndrome also had higher levels of depression and irritability.

For patients to have optimal outcome and wellbeing it is important to diagnose and treat the underlying issues.

Source: Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007; 133:170-176