[Dizziness and anxiety disorders in the elderly]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Dizziness is frequently associated with emotional disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, in elderly individuals.
• The concurrence of dizziness and mental disorders stems from vestibular vertigo inducing anxiety or anxiety/depression manifesting as dizziness-like sensations.
• Psychoautonomic syndrome, rooted in anxiety and depression, can present with various somatic complaints, including dizziness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the complex relationship between dizziness and mental disorders in the elderly.
• To discuss the diverse etiologies underlying the co-occurrence of dizziness and psychological conditions.
• To evaluate potential therapeutic interventions for comorbid dizziness and anxiety in geriatric populations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on the interplay between vestibular disorders and emotional disturbances.
• Analysis of clinical presentations of dizziness, anxiety, and depression in elderly patients.
• Examination of psychogenic dizziness, including the concept of 'phobic postural instability'.
• Review of treatment modalities: vestibular rehabilitation, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy.

Main Results:

• Vestibular vertigo can significantly exacerbate anxiety.
• Anxiety and depression can manifest with symptoms mimicking vestibular dysfunction.
• Phobic postural instability is a proposed term for psychogenic dizziness as a primary complaint.
• Anvifen, a GABA-ergic medication, is presented as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders.

Conclusions:

• The link between dizziness and mental health in the elderly is multifaceted, involving both direct causation and shared symptomatology.
• A comprehensive treatment approach integrating vestibular rehabilitation, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy is essential.
• Anvifen offers a pathogenetically sound option for managing anxiety disorders contributing to dizziness in the elderly.