Open AccessProlonged Vertigo Associated with Nystagmus: an Organic or a Psychiatric Disorder? – Discussing a Case Report
Author(s) -
Naeimeh Hosseini,
Moghadam Ahmadi Amir,
Abdolkarimi Dawarani Mohammad Ali,
Reza Bidaki,
Tajiksafa Aboozar
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
galen medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2588-2767
pISSN - 2322-2379
DOI - 10.31661/gmj.v2i2.31
Subject(s) - medicine , nystagmus , vertigo , psychiatry , somatization disorder , conversion disorder , somatization , anxiety , surgery
Background:It is mostly organic diseases that are considered when a neurological sign or symptom is present in the history of a patient; however, there may be psychiatric problems also present which could be missed. We report a case to discuss the possibility of the presence of an organic or psychiatric underlying disorder when facing neurological problems.Case Presentation:We report a case of chronic headache accompanied by vertigo and multiple medical problems including nystagmus and abdominal pain without any significant findings on physical exam that was diagnosed to have a somatization disorder (Not Otherwise Specified or NOS).Conclusion:We did not find any documents regarding the presence of true nystagmus as a functional, factitious or psychosomatic disorder; however, voluntary nystagmus has been reported in some cases with a series of fast (saccadic) back-to-back eye movements, without any interval or slow phase. It is recommended that psychiatrists and neurologists search for a psychiatric disorder as well; even if the problem is supposed to have an organic nature like nystagmus or vertigo, especially when associated with a prolonged, resistant, or unusual course.