Mal de debarquement syndrome: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Vestibular Disorders
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Mal de debarquement (MdD) is a common, transient sensation of self-motion after passive motion exposure, typically sea travel.
• Mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a persistent form of MdD, affecting individuals long after the initial exposure.
• The pathophysiology of MdDS remains poorly understood, leading to limited treatment options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a systematic literature review on Mal de debarquement (MdD) and Mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS).
• To identify shortcomings in current MdDS research and propose diagnostic criteria.
• To guide future research directions for MdDS.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of medical databases using terms 'mal de debarquement' and 'sea legs'.
• Inclusion and exclusion of studies based on predefined criteria.
• Analysis of existing literature to synthesize findings and identify research gaps.

Main Results:

• A growing body of literature indicates increased interest in MdDS.
• Current literature lacks a systematic review, hindering a comprehensive understanding.
• Proposed diagnostic criteria are suggested to aid healthcare professionals.

Conclusions:

• A systematic review is crucial to address current literature gaps in MdDS.
• Further research is needed to determine MdDS prevalence and underlying pathophysiology.
• Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are essential for evaluating treatment efficacy.