Visually induced dizziness picture system (VIDPS): From development to clinical application in dizziness assessment

Background: Dizziness, one of the most common neurologic symptoms, is difficult to assess objectively due to a lack of standardized stimulus materials and assessment scenarios. Nonstructural dizziness is often difficult to diagnose due to the lack of an objective diagnostic basis. Objective: In this study, we developed a standardized picture system to trigger dizziness and assess dizziness severity. Methods: First, we identified the pictures through documentaries and computer post-production to extract each picture's objective features and determined the most representative objective features affecting dizziness. The subjective features of each picture were scored by healthy participants. Then, we screened 100 pictures with an even distribution of dizziness scores and used them to assess dizziness severity and optimize the assessment model. Results: The results showed that standard deviation (std), blurriness (blur), frequency skewness of horizontal direction (skew_h), and frequency skewness of vertical direction (skew_v) were representative objective features of the dizziness pictures, of which skew_h and skew_v were negatively correlated with the degree of dizziness. The above 100 pictures were scored by patients with dizziness. The average deviation value of dizziness was positively correlated with the Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale (VVAS) scores (r = 0.267, p < 0.05). The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7) scores optimized the assessment model and affected the relationship between the average deviation value of dizziness and the VVAS scores. Conclusions: This standardized dizziness picture system will help clinicians and researchers to consistently and accurately assess dizziness and assist in objective diagnosis. It also provides reliable experimental materials to study pathogenesis and interventions in dizziness, especially nonstructural dizziness.