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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009;80:339-344 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2008.144360
  • Research paper

Psychiatric profile and attention deficits in postural tachycardia syndrome

  1. V Raj1,
  2. K L Haman1,
  3. S R Raj2,3,
  4. D Byrne4,
  5. R D Blakely1,3,6,
  6. I Biaggioni2,3,
  7. D Robertson2,3,5,6,
  8. R C Shelton1,3
  1. 1
    Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
  2. 2
    Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
  3. 3
    Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
  4. 4
    Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
  5. 5
    Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
  6. 6
    Center for Molecular Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
  1. Dr R C Shelton, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1500 21st Ave, South, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN 37212, USA; Richard.Shelton{at}vanderbilt.edu
  • Received 12 January 2008
  • Revised 13 August 2008
  • Accepted 8 September 2008
  • Published Online First 31 October 2008

Abstract

Objectives: Patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) often appear anxious and report inattention. Patients with POTS were formally assessed for psychiatric disorders and inattention and compared with patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and control subjects.

Methods: Patients with POTS (n = 21), ADHD (n = 18) and normal control subjects (n = 20) were assessed for DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and completed a battery of questionnaires that assessed depression, anxiety and ADHD characteristics.

Results: Patients with POTS did not have an increased prevalence of major depression or anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, compared with the general population. Patients with POTS had mild depression. They scored as moderately anxious on the Beck Anxiety Inventory but did not exhibit a high level of anxiety sensitivity. Patients with POTS scored significantly higher on inattention and ADHD subscales than control subjects. These symptoms were not present during childhood.

Conclusions: Patients with POTS do not have an increased lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Although they may seem anxious, they do not have excess cognitive anxiety. They do experience significant inattention which may be an important source of disability.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Funding: This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (Bethesda MD, USA) grants 2P01 HL56693, RO1 NS055670, K23 RR020783, M01 RR00095 and UL1 RR024975.

  • Ethics approval: The study was approved by the Vanderbilt University Institutional Review Board.

  • ▸ A supplementary appendix is published online only at http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/vol80/issue3

Responses to this article

  • Postural tachycardia syndrome and anxiety disorders
    • Svetlana Blitshteyn
    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry published online April 8, 2009

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