Fits, faints and funny turns. Could it be a mental disorder?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients who present to primary care with symptoms of fainting and dizziness, for which there is no adequate physical explanation, are frequently suffering from an undiagnosed psychiatric disorder. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to improve the recognition of common mental disorders presenting as 'fits, faints and funny turns' (FFFTs) and to encourage general practitioners to view these disorders as a positive diagnosis in need of treatment. DISCUSSION: Psychiatric disorders, particularly panic attacks and depression, are common in the setting of FFFTs and should be a positive diagnosis rather than a diagnosis of exclusion. A detailed description of the episode, with corroborating i..