Relationship between somatosensory amplification and frequency of vertigo episodes: a study of psychogenic vertigo

Otolaryngology patients often exhibit symptoms of psychological disorders. For example, a clinical study, in which psychologists conducted structured interviews with neuro-otology outpatients, reported that nearly half of the patients needed psychological help. In addition, although a relationship between chronic vertigo (dizziness) symptoms and anxiety has been previously reported, a study of patients with Meniere’s disease or lightheadedness reported a complication of generalized anxiety disorder and depression. It has also been reported that patients with anxiety are at high risk of developing benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The symptoms of chronic vertigo cannot be explained only by organic abnormalities; psychological Objective: Onset of psychogenic vertigo/dizziness is affected by psychosocial factors. Somatosensory amplification is one of the psychological factors associated with functional physical symptoms, but its relationship to psychogenic vertigo remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between the frequency of vertigo episodes and somatosensory amplification in patients with psychogenic vertigo. Methods: Participants were individuals aged 20 to 79 years complaining of psychogenic vertigo. They were referred by otolaryngologists to the department of psychosomatic medicine of a university hospital in Japan. The participants’ physical and mental conditions were evaluated using the Vertigo Symptom Scale-Short Form (VSS-sf), Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multiple linear regression analysis, with VSS-sf as the independent variable, was used to assess the associations. Results: Of the 41 participants, 35 (12 males and 23 females) were included in the analysis. The VSS-sf scores showed positive correlations with the scores for the anxiety scale of the HADS and SSAS. Linear multiple regression analysis identified the VSS-sf scores as being positively associated with the scores on the SSAS (p<0.01) and negatively associated with age (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that in patients with psychogenic vertigo, the vertigo episodes occur more frequently as somatosensory amplification increases, however, the frequency might decrease with age. 原 著