Phobic postural vertigo (154 patients): Its association with vestibular disorders

A retrospective study on 154 patients with the diagnosis of phobic postural vertigo (PPV) revealed an age distribution ranging from 18 to 70 years, with a clear peak for the fourth and fifth decades (mean age 41.5 years) and with both sexes affected equally. In 32 patients (21%) PPV was associated with disabling vestibular disorder, in particular benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo (14 patients) and vestibular neuritis (10 patients). The vestibular disorder preceded the development of PPV. This was reflected clinically by the transition of organic vertigo into the typical PPV syndrome without a symptom-free interval. Thus, in those at risk, a vestibular disorder may trigger PPV with a course independent of vestibular recovery or compensation. In most patients presenting with PPV, however, the condition was not induced by an organic vestibular disorder.