Otoneurological examination in panic disorder and agoraphobia with panic attacks: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Dizziness is a common symptom during panic attacks.
• The underlying causes of dizziness in panic disorder and agoraphobia are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vestibular and audiological function in patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia who experience dizziness during panic attacks.

Main Methods:

• Administered a battery of vestibular tests including positional testing, caloric testing, rotational testing, and posturography.
• Conducted audiological assessments such as pure tone audiograms, acoustic reflexes, and brainstem auditory evoked potentials.

Main Results:

• 67% of subjects exhibited nystagmus.
• Abnormalities were noted in caloric testing (56%), rotational testing (35%), and posturography (32%).
• Audiological tests revealed abnormalities in 26% (pure tone audiograms) and 44% (acoustic reflexes), with 6/8 patients showing abnormal brainstem auditory evoked potentials.

Conclusions:

• Patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia experiencing dizziness exhibit significant vestibular and audiological dysfunctions.
• These findings suggest that sensory processing deficits may play a role in the pathophysiology of panic attacks.
• Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these findings for diagnosis and treatment.