STEADFAST: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Improves Postural Strategy of Somatoform Vertigo and Dizziness
Patients with somatoform vertigo and dizziness (SVD) disorders often report instability of stance or gait and fear of falling. Posturographic measurements indeed indicated a pathological postural strategy. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational short-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Behavioural Neurology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/456850 |
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| author | Christoph Best Regine Tschan Nikola Stieber Manfred E. Beutel Annegret Eckhardt-Henn Marianne Dieterich |
| author_facet | Christoph Best Regine Tschan Nikola Stieber Manfred E. Beutel Annegret Eckhardt-Henn Marianne Dieterich |
| author_sort | Christoph Best |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Patients with somatoform vertigo and dizziness (SVD) disorders often report instability of stance or gait and fear of falling. Posturographic measurements indeed indicated a pathological postural strategy. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational short-term intervention (PTI) using static posturography and psychometric examination. Seventeen SVD patients took part in the study. The effects of PTI on SVD were evaluated with quantitative static posturography. As primary endpoint a quotient characterizing the relation between horizontal and vertical sway was calculated (QH/V), reflecting the individual postural strategy. Results of static posturography were compared to those of age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (n=28); baseline measurements were compared to results after PTI. The secondary endpoint was the participation-limiting consequences of SVD as measured by the Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire (VHQ). Compared to the healthy volunteers, the patients with SVD showed a postural strategy characterized by stiffening-up that resulted in a significantly reduced body sway quotient before PTI (patients: QH/V=0.31 versus controls: QH/V=0.38; p=0.022). After PTI the postural behavior normalized, and psychological distress was reduced. PTI therefore appears to modify pathological balance behaviour. The postural strategy of patients with SVD possibly results from anxious anticipatory cocontraction of the antigravity muscles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4354eb66370406fbe1db630420aa34b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0953-4180 1875-8584 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioural Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4354eb66370406fbe1db630420aa34b2025-02-03T05:52:45ZengWileyBehavioural Neurology0953-41801875-85842015-01-01201510.1155/2015/456850456850STEADFAST: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Improves Postural Strategy of Somatoform Vertigo and DizzinessChristoph Best0Regine Tschan1Nikola Stieber2Manfred E. Beutel3Annegret Eckhardt-Henn4Marianne Dieterich5Department of Neurology, Vestibular Research Unit, Philipps-University, Baldingerstrasse, 35043 Marburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine, Bürgerhospital, Tunzhofer Strasse 14-16, 70191 Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, GermanyPatients with somatoform vertigo and dizziness (SVD) disorders often report instability of stance or gait and fear of falling. Posturographic measurements indeed indicated a pathological postural strategy. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational short-term intervention (PTI) using static posturography and psychometric examination. Seventeen SVD patients took part in the study. The effects of PTI on SVD were evaluated with quantitative static posturography. As primary endpoint a quotient characterizing the relation between horizontal and vertical sway was calculated (QH/V), reflecting the individual postural strategy. Results of static posturography were compared to those of age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (n=28); baseline measurements were compared to results after PTI. The secondary endpoint was the participation-limiting consequences of SVD as measured by the Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire (VHQ). Compared to the healthy volunteers, the patients with SVD showed a postural strategy characterized by stiffening-up that resulted in a significantly reduced body sway quotient before PTI (patients: QH/V=0.31 versus controls: QH/V=0.38; p=0.022). After PTI the postural behavior normalized, and psychological distress was reduced. PTI therefore appears to modify pathological balance behaviour. The postural strategy of patients with SVD possibly results from anxious anticipatory cocontraction of the antigravity muscles.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/456850 |
| spellingShingle | Christoph Best Regine Tschan Nikola Stieber Manfred E. Beutel Annegret Eckhardt-Henn Marianne Dieterich STEADFAST: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Improves Postural Strategy of Somatoform Vertigo and Dizziness Behavioural Neurology |
| title | STEADFAST: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Improves Postural Strategy of Somatoform Vertigo and Dizziness |
| title_full | STEADFAST: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Improves Postural Strategy of Somatoform Vertigo and Dizziness |
| title_fullStr | STEADFAST: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Improves Postural Strategy of Somatoform Vertigo and Dizziness |
| title_full_unstemmed | STEADFAST: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Improves Postural Strategy of Somatoform Vertigo and Dizziness |
| title_short | STEADFAST: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Improves Postural Strategy of Somatoform Vertigo and Dizziness |
| title_sort | steadfast psychotherapeutic intervention improves postural strategy of somatoform vertigo and dizziness |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/456850 |
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