LIGHTHEADEDNESS
Psychiatric causes of lightheadedness are common, particularly anxiety; therefore, questions about anxiety and depression should be included in the patient history. In one study, about 28 percent of patients with dizziness reported symptoms of at least one anxiety disorder.26 In another study, one in four patients with dizziness met criteria for panic disorder.27 A study of patients with chronic dizziness showed that those with panic disorder were more likely to have neurotologic findings than those without panic disorder.28 Up to 60 percent of patients with chronic subjective dizziness have been reported to have an anxiety disorder.29 Depression and alcohol intoxication have also been found to overlap with dizziness.21,30