It is an unrealistic spinning sensation of our own body or the objects around us, in the context of a psychological and/or psychiatric disorder.
It usually begins after a stress crisis, personal or professional crisis.
The most frequent symptoms include a feeling of insecurity, faintness, dullness, lightheadedness, a feeling of being in a boat, or that something is spinning inside the head. There is rarely actual vertigo. It is usually accompanied by somatic symptoms such as: neck tension, abdominal discomfort, palpitations, increased frequency and desire to urinate, a feeling of generalised weakness and fatigue.
It is diagnosed by a detailed medical history and a thorough physical examination.
Medical treatment is based on the use of certain antidepressants, mild neuroleptics and/or short half-life anxiolytics. Psychotherapy (psychoeducation with cognitive behavioural therapy) is also necessary to correct or eradicate this pathology.
- Joseph M Furman. Pathophysiology, etiology, and differential diagnosis of vertigo. UpToDate. Jun 03, 2015.
- Joseph M Furman, Jason JS Barton. Evaluation of the patient with vertigo. UpToDate. Jun 10, 2015.
- Joseph M Furman, Jason JS Barton. Treatment of vertigo. UpToDate. May 26, 2015.
- Mark F. Walker, Robert B. Daroff. Mareo y vértigo.Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 1. 19º Edición. 148:151.
- Javier Chacón Martínez , Jorge Alberto Jiménez Antolín, José Antonio Garrido Robres. Mareos y vértigos en urgencias. Manual de protocolos y actuación en urgencias. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo. Tercera edición. 2010. 545:552.

