Vestibular and posturographic test results in people with symptoms of panic and agoraphobia

Yardley, L., Luxon, L., Bird, J., Lear, S. and Britton, J. (1994) Vestibular and posturographic test results in people with symptoms of panic and agoraphobia. Journal of Audiological Medicine, 3 (1), 48-65.

Abstract

Many of the situations that induce sensations of dizziness and panic in people prone to panic and agoraphobia are characterised by perceptual conditions which also provoke disorientation in people with organic balance-system dysfunction. This observation suggests that people with symptoms of panic and agoraphobia may have undetected balance-system abnormalities. The present study compared, therefore, the results of vestibular and posturographic tests in 17 people with symptoms of panic and agoraphobia with those in 17 healthy controls. Tests of vestibulo-ocular function (rotatory, optokinetic and caloric testing) failed to differentiate clearly between the two groups. In contrast, assessment of postural sway by moving-platform posturography revealed that 12 of the panic subjects, but only 1 normal subject, relied on visual and proprioceptive information for postural control. These subjects were consequently destabilised by motion of the visual surround or surface of support. Posturography test results correlated with subjective reports of dizziness and agoraphobic avoidance but were not related to measures of somatic anxiety or fear of anxiety-related symptoms or their anticipated consequences. Thus the pattern of posturography test results found among panic subjects does not seem to reflect simply generalised anxiety or psychogenic instability, but appears more consistent with specific difficulties relating to orientation and postural control.

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Contributors

Author: L. Yardley

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