Influence of vestibular disease on psychological distress: a multicenter study

Some patients with dizziness show high comorbidity with psychiatric disorders. However, the association of vestibular deficit with psychological symptoms remains controversial. Thus, we investigated psychological distress (depression and anxiety) in patients with vestibular disease and examined factors modifying the development of psychological distress in these patients, including age, sex, severity of dizziness symptoms, and type of vestibular disease.

Prospective study.

Tertiary referral center.

This study enrolled 407 patients with dizziness. Dizziness and the psychological symptoms of all patients were measured using the Korean versions of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). We evaluated the influence of vestibular disease type, DHI score, and other factors such as sex and age on the psychological scales (BDI, STAI) through multiple regression analysis.

Only DHI score and vestibular neuritis were related significantly to BDI scores in patients with vestibular disease, and only DHI scores were associated with STAI scores.

Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores and psychological distress were closely associated. Psychological distress might be a consequence of high DHI score rather than of a specific type of vestibular disease, although depressive symptoms were related to vestibular neuritis.