[Illness-specific control issues in patients with vertigo as the main symptom].

The study explored the relationship between health locus of control and anxiety in 90 patients with the chief complaint of dizziness/vertigo. The patients were subjected to a neurological examination, including standardised history, physical examination, electronystagmography with caloric testing and posturography, auditory and visually brainstem-evoked responses, masseter reflex, vertebrobasiliar transcranial Doppler, optional: cranial imaging (CCT/MRI), cardial diagnostic, and a psychiatric-psychodynamic examination (including psychometric tests: STAI-G X2, KKG, SBA-S). The whole group of patients (psychogenic and organic dizziness) had a specific pattern of health locus of control: "double health external" (Type IV-Wallston and Wallston 1982). Patients with psychogenic dizziness showed a higher score of external locus of control (chance) compared with the patients with organic dizziness. High anxiety scores were accompanied by high scores of external locus of control (powerful others and chance) above all in the patients with psychogenic dizziness. Implications for therapy are discussed.