Phobic postural vertigo: a first follow-up.
Seventy-eight patients with phobic postural vertigo (PPV) and 17 patients with psychogenic disorder of stance and gait (PSG) were asked to evaluate their condition 6 months to 5.5 years after their original referral and short-term psychotherapy. Two results seem most important: (1) PPV had a favorable course with a 72% improvement rate (22% of patients becoming symptom free), whereas the majority of patients with PSG (52%) remained unchanged; (2) the majority of patients with PPV experienced complete remission or considerable improvement even if their condition had lasted between 1 and 20 years prior to diagnosis. Complete remission of PSG was observed only if the disorder has been present less than 4 months; there was no improvement if it had lasted longer than 2 years. PPV can be defined as a distinct clinical entity with a relatively benign course. It can be reliably diagnosed on the basis of typical features.
Brandt
T
T
Neurologische Universitätsklinik, Klinikum Grosshadern, München, Germany.
Huppert
D
D
Dieterich
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011187:Posture; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology*