title: Psychological correlates of vasovagal versus medically unexplained syncope.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychiatric morbidity is quite common in vasovagal syncope (VVS), but findings are sometimes contradictory. Among patients with suspected VVS, up to 40% has a negative response to Head-Up Tilt test (HUT), the cause of syncope remaining unexplained (US). The authors evaluated and compared the psychological and psychosomatic profile in patients with positive (VVS) and negative HUT (US).
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of 67 patients with suspected VVS underwent HUT: 45 patients had a positive HUT, 22 negative. They were evaluated by means of observer- and self-rated measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total sample, 95.5% had at least one Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnosis or one psychosomatic syndrome, such as specific and social phobias, illness denial and demoralization. Comparing VVS and US patients, no statistical differences on diagnoses' frequencies were found. However, the US group had significantly poorer health habits, lower levels of well-being and higher psychological distress. They also reported to be more anxious, depressed and hostile. VVS patients were significantly more blood and social phobic than US patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite similar and remarkable observer-rated psychopathology, US patients reported higher self-perceived psychological distress than VVS patients. Psychological evaluation of patients undergoing HUT should incorporate both clinical and subclinical methods to better address syncope management.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy. chiara.rafanelli@unibo.it
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Rafanelli
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Gostoli
authors: Renzo
authors: R
authors: Roncuzzi
authors: Biagio
authors: B
authors: Sassone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013575:Syncope / Q000523:psychology*; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000523:psychology*; D018667:Tilt-Table Test; D055815:Young Adult