Visually induced postural sway in anxiety disorders.

Full Abstract

Postural sensitivity to moving visual environments in patients with anxiety disorders was studied. We hypothesized that patients with anxiety disorders would have greater sway in response to a moving visual environment compared to healthy adults, especially if they have space and motion discomfort (SMD). Twenty-one patients with generalized anxiety without panic (NPA) and 38 patients with panic and agoraphobia (PAG) were compared to 22 healthy controls. SMD was evaluated in all subjects via questionnaire. Subjects stood on a force platform that was either fixed or rotating with the subject (i.e., sway referenced) during exposure to a sinusoidally moving visual surround. Center of pressure (COP) data were computed from force transducers in the platform as a measure of sway. Results showed that patients swayed significantly more in response to the moving visual scene compared to control subjects, with no differences between the NPA and PAG groups. SMD was a predictor of sway response in the patients:
patients with high SMD swayed significantly more than both Controls and anxiety patients with low SMD. These results indicate that patients with anxiety disorders, particularly those with SMD, are more visually dependent for balance. This subgroup of patients may be amenable to treatment used for patients with balance disorders (i.e., vestibular rehabilitation) that focuses on sensory re-integration processes that address visual sensitivity.

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Author information

Author/s: Redfern, Mark S (MS); Furman, Joseph M (JM); Jacob, Rolf G (RG);

Affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. mredfern(-atsign-)pitt.edu

Grants: P01 DC003417-01A10005 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01 DC003417-01A19003 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01 DC003417-020005 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01 DC003417-029003 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01 DC003417-030005 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01 DC003417-039003 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01 DC003417-040005 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01 DC003417-049003 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01 DC003417-050005 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01 DC003417-059003 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; P01-DC03417 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of anxiety disorders (J Anxiety Disord), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-; vol 21 (issue 5) : pp 704-16

Dates: Created 2007/06/04; Completed 2007/09/26; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17045776, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Agoraphobia - diagnosis; psychology
Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; psychology
Comorbidity
Conflict (Psychology)
Female
Humans
Kinesthesis
Male
Middle Aged

Motion Perception
Motion Sickness - diagnosis; psychology
Panic Disorder - diagnosis; psychology
Phobic Disorders - diagnosis; psychology
Postural Balance
Reference Values
Risk Factors
Rotation
Social Environment
Vestibular Function Tests
Visual Perception

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