Mental Health Education and Utilization Among Patients with Vestibular Disorders

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Vestibular disorders significantly impact quality of life.
• Mental health comorbidities like anxiety and depression are common in these patients.
• Limited research exists on mental health support for individuals with vestibular disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the provision of mental health education, assessment, and referrals.
• To examine mental health service utilization among individuals with vestibular disorders.
• To identify factors associated with receiving mental health support.

Main Methods:

• Online survey distributed via social media forums to patients in the US, Australia, Canada, and UK.
• Validated questionnaires assessed demographics, anxiety, depression, and dizziness.
• Data collected on mental health education, assessment, referral, and treatment receipt.

Main Results:

• A majority of the 226 participants (predominantly women with chronic vestibular symptoms) reported never receiving verbal education (52%), written education (69%), mental health assessment (54%), or referral (72%).
• Participants who received verbal resources or referrals were more likely to have accessed mental health treatment.
• Most patients with vestibular disorders indicated a lack of mental health support from medical professionals.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers frequently fail to offer essential mental health education, assessment, and referrals to patients with vestibular disorders.
• There is a significant unmet need for integrated mental healthcare within vestibular disorder management.
• Future interventions should focus on improving clinician-provided mental health support for this population.