Anxiety, depression, and persistent postural perceptual dizziness: International classification of vestibular disorders by Bárány Society

Abstract

The Behavioral Subcommittee of the Committee for the Classification of Vestibular Disorders of the Bárány Society defined the following seven conditions that are related to psychiatric disorders with vestibular symptoms: Episodic vestibular syndrome due to anxiety; chronic vestibular syndrome due to anxiety; anxiety complicating vestibular syndrome; vestibular symptoms due to depression; depression complicating a vestibular syndrome; vestibular illness anxiety; and fear of falling. Basically, anxiety and depression are the two major psychiatric disorders that could be associated with vestibular symptoms. They could be the primary or secondary psychiatric disorders that cause or amplify vestibular morbidity. Vestibular symptoms may be acute, episodic, or chronic. Vestibular illness anxiety is a category of somatoform disorders rather than anxiety and depression. Fear of falling is categorized as a phobia. In addition, persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD) was defined as an interface of vestibular and psychiatric disorders that is characterized by chronic dizziness exacerbated by upright posture, active or passive movement and visual stimuli.