[Dizziness from a psychosomatic perspective]

Somatoform dizziness is one of the most frequent forms of dizziness besides vestibular neuritis and benign peripheral positional vertigo. Due to false diagnoses patients often suffer from the symptoms for months and even years and because of this the working and private activities are severely restricted. An early interdisciplinary diagnosis is very important and a specific psychosomatic therapy should be started as early as possible. Somatoform dizziness can be due to a variety of mental or psychosomatic disorders. It can occur without a preceding peripheral vestibular disorder (primary somatoform dizziness) or it can develop after a peripheral vestibular disorder (secondary somatoform dizziness). The clinical symptomatology, diagnosis and differential diagnosis are described and illustrated by clinical vignettes. Risk factors and preventive measures are briefly summarized.