Imipramine for vestibular dysfunction in panic disorder: a prospective case series
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of imipramine on the treatment of comorbid chronic dizziness and panic disorder. METHOD: Nine patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia associated with chronic dizziness underwent otoneurological screening and were treated with a 3-months course of imipramine. Anxiety levels were measured with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), dizziness levels were evaluated using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and panic severity and treatment outcome were assessed with the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). RESULTS: At the baseline 33.3% (n=3) had a bilateral peripheral deficit vestibulopathy, the mean scores for HAM-A were 27.2±10.4, for DHI were 51.7±22.7, and for CGI-S were 4.8±0.9. All patients had a significant reduction in their HAM-A (11.1±5.5, p=0.008), DHI (11.5±8.1, p=0.008) and CGI-I (1.8±0.7, p=0.011) levels after 3-months imipramine treatment (mean=72.2±23.2 mg/day). CONCLUSION: This study found a decrease in anxiety levels and in the impact of dizziness in the patients' quality of life after a 3-months treatment course with imipramine.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO
2011
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| Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2011000200011 |
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