Emotional stability; its relationship to confidence in maintaining balance.
Previous failures to find an association between postural test results and the complaints of dizziness/imbalance were further investigated in neuro-otology out-patients, testing in a range of everyday situations requiring balance. Three matched groups of patients were compared: those complaining of dizziness/imbalance; those reporting but not complaining of dizziness/imbalance; and those who had never experienced these symptoms as noteworthy. No difference was found between the groups in measures of postural performance, self-reported confidence in balance, or in several trait measures of fear/anxiety. However, confidence in balance was significantly correlated with fear/anxiety measures across the sample. The correlations were strongest in complaining patients and weakest in patients reporting but not complaining of dizziness/imbalance. The results suggest that psychological characteristics are likely to influence the reporting of symptoms of dizziness/imbalance. The contribution of vestibular and other balance disorders is unclear given that the three groups performed equally well on postural tests.
Department of Psychology, University College London, U.K.
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Hallam
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Hinchcliffe
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D004244:Dizziness / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*