Prevalence and presentation of dizziness in a general practice community sample of working age people
Prevalence and presentation of dizziness in a general practice community sample of working age people
Background. Dizziness is known to be a common, handicapping condition in the elderly, and a strong association between dizziness and anxiety disorders has been observed in hospital samples. However, little is known about the prevalence of dizziness among people of working age in the community and its implications for psychosocial functioning and general practice consultation and treatment. Aim. To determine the prevalence of dizziness, giddiness, vertigo, and unsteadiness, and associations with disability and handicap, symptoms of panic and agoraphobia, and general practice consultation and treatment. Method. Postal questionnaires were completed by 2064 people aged 18-64 years randomly sampled from the patient lists of four London practices. Validated survey items were used to assess symptoms, panic and agoraphobia, levels of occupational disability and handicap, and general practice consultation and treatment. Results. More than one in five responders (n = 480) had experienced dizziness during the past month; nearly half of these (n = 225) reported some degree of handicap and 30% had been dizzy for more than five years. Almost half (n = 221) of those with dizziness also reported anxiety and/or avoidance behaviour. Multiple physical and psychological symptoms were associated with higher levels of handicap. Only one in four of the 225 dizzy responders reporting some degree of handicap had received any form of treatment. Conclusion. Dizziness is a common, chronic, and often untreated symptom in people aged 18-65 years, associated with extensive handicap and psychological morbidity.
Anxiety, Dizziness, Questionnaire survey
1131-1135
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Owen, Natalie
0b7d88af-5d9b-4011-83d1-7648fc890ec5
Nazareth, Irwin
630042a9-f574-448d-85fa-d2ac3a6807b5
Luxon, Linda
25675812-8901-478e-abaa-52de052efa63
1 January 1998
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Owen, Natalie
0b7d88af-5d9b-4011-83d1-7648fc890ec5
Nazareth, Irwin
630042a9-f574-448d-85fa-d2ac3a6807b5
Luxon, Linda
25675812-8901-478e-abaa-52de052efa63
Yardley, Lucy, Owen, Natalie, Nazareth, Irwin and Luxon, Linda
(1998)
Prevalence and presentation of dizziness in a general practice community sample of working age people.
British Journal of General Practice, 48 (429), .
Abstract
Background. Dizziness is known to be a common, handicapping condition in the elderly, and a strong association between dizziness and anxiety disorders has been observed in hospital samples. However, little is known about the prevalence of dizziness among people of working age in the community and its implications for psychosocial functioning and general practice consultation and treatment. Aim. To determine the prevalence of dizziness, giddiness, vertigo, and unsteadiness, and associations with disability and handicap, symptoms of panic and agoraphobia, and general practice consultation and treatment. Method. Postal questionnaires were completed by 2064 people aged 18-64 years randomly sampled from the patient lists of four London practices. Validated survey items were used to assess symptoms, panic and agoraphobia, levels of occupational disability and handicap, and general practice consultation and treatment. Results. More than one in five responders (n = 480) had experienced dizziness during the past month; nearly half of these (n = 225) reported some degree of handicap and 30% had been dizzy for more than five years. Almost half (n = 221) of those with dizziness also reported anxiety and/or avoidance behaviour. Multiple physical and psychological symptoms were associated with higher levels of handicap. Only one in four of the 225 dizzy responders reporting some degree of handicap had received any form of treatment. Conclusion. Dizziness is a common, chronic, and often untreated symptom in people aged 18-65 years, associated with extensive handicap and psychological morbidity.
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Published date: 1 January 1998
Keywords:
Anxiety, Dizziness, Questionnaire survey
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Local EPrints ID: 509312
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509312
ISSN: 0960-1643
PURE UUID: 43aa4c73-b496-4fad-8e15-aaa768077e6c
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Date deposited: 18 Feb 2026 17:41
Last modified: 19 Feb 2026 02:35
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Contributors
Author:
Natalie Owen
Author:
Irwin Nazareth
Author:
Linda Luxon
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