['No previous studies have investigated the psychiatric characteristics of patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Similarly, no studies have been performed on patients with different chronic somatic symptoms due to a defined medical disease to compare the characteristics of psychiatric morbidity associated with each etiology.', 'After completing the subscales of the Symptom Checklist 90-R, a psychiatrist administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule to all subjects. The psychiatric comorbidity in 35 patients with pain due to PHN was compared with a control group of 34 patients with the nonpainful aversive symptom of vertigo due to a peripheral vestibular disorder that caused unilateral hypofunction.', 'PHN patients had significantly more symptoms of major depression and somatization disorder. No significant differences were found between groups for psychiatric diagnoses. Patients with PHN reported significantly less acutely distressing somatic symptoms.'] Do psychiatric symptoms and distress differ between patients with postherpetic neuralgia and peripheral vestibular disease?