Vertigo and dizziness of functional origin.

In patients consulting otologists for vertigo a functional source can be expected in 50% of the patients and more frequently among young females than among older male subjects. Functional vertigo is frequently perceived as a turning sensation inside the head, functional dizziness frequently as a rocking sensation of the whole body, while patients with vertigo of somatic origin frequently seem to complain of a spinning sensation outside the head. The duration pattern of functional vertigo is frequently of a fluctuating or continuous type, while in the nonfunctional subjects it is of 2-5 hr. duration. In patients with vertigo of functional origin eye-closure tends to release rather than inhibit nystagmus.