title: Psychological traumatization and adverse life events in patients with organic and functional vestibular symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  . A relationship has frequently been found between a history of traumatization and the existence of somatoform symptoms. The objective of this study was to examine whether this relationship is also observed for functional, i.e. medically not sufficiently explained, vestibular symptoms (FVS). We tested whether patients with FVS and organically explained vestibular symptoms (OVS) differ with regard to frequencies of previous traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress symptoms. We also explored whether the impact of previous trauma was associated with characteristics of vestibular symptoms and handicap.
  
  
  METHODS
  . Patients with a diagnosis of OVS (N=185) or FVS (N=158) completed questionnaires about potentially traumatizing experiences (e.g., Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Impact of Events Scale) and vertigo-related symptoms and handicap (Vertigo Symptom Scale, Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire).
  
  
  RESULTS
  . We found no differences between the two patient groups with regard to number or impact of traumatic life events. However, regression analyses across groups revealed that, regardless of their diagnosis, prior traumatic experiences and the presence of posttraumatic stress symptoms including avoidance and intrusion predicted to some extent higher overall balance symptoms and autonomic symptoms of vertigo-related anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  . Exposure to trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress can contribute to symptom severity and handicap experienced by patients with vestibular symptoms irrespective of their original cause, most likely serving as predisposing, modulating or perpetuating factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universitaet, Munich, Germany; German Centre for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radziej
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universitaet, Munich, Germany; German Centre for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universitaet, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dinkel
authors.affiliation: German Centre for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Munich, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zwergal
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universitaet, Munich, Germany; German Centre for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: lahmann@tum.de.
authors.forename: Claas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lahmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004244:Dizziness / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014717:Vertigo / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dizziness; Functional; Somatoform; Traumatization; Vertigo; Vestibular symptoms