文摘
One hundred and sixpatients diagnosed between 1987and 1998 to have somatoform phobicpostural vertigo were examinedin a follow–up study with a selfevaluatingquestionnaire. Theimprovement rate after a meanfollow–up time of 8.5 years (5 to15.9 years) was 75 % (27 % of thepatients reported a completeremission). While the majority ofthese patients experienced improvementor remission during thefirst year after assessment of diagnosisand a short–term psychotherapeuticapproach, some patientsalso had considerable improvementeven after two or more years. Therewas a negative correlation betweenthe duration of the condition beforeassessment of the diagnosisand the improvement/regressionrate. The improvement/regressionrate was independent of gender,age, preceding vestibular or nonvestibularorganic disorders, andthe various medical, physical, orpsychotherapeutic interventions.Transient relapses occurred in 47 % of the improved patients once orrepeatedly. The probability ofdeveloping a relapse remainedconstant throughout the entirefollow–up. None of the patientsrequired a revision of the initialdiagnosis on the basis of the questionnaire.
