Abstract
Psychotherapy in case of dizziness: explanatory model and case report
The traditional discrimination between organic and psychogenic dizziness
fails to capture the complex relationships between neurologic, otologic, and
psychiatric factors in patients suffering from long-standing dizziness. After
an introduction, this case report presents and discusses the cognitive-behavioural
treatment of a 29-year-old patient with frequent dizziness attacks
without avoidance behaviour. The diagnostic model was based on both
somatic and psychic components. This enabled the patient, who kept assuming
an overlooked organic pathology, to understand the potential helpfulness
of a psychotherapeutic treatment. The treatment plan was derived from
an individual case formulation in order to consider the potential causal,
developmental, and maintenance factors of the symptomatology.
Rufer, M