Disability and Anxiety in Vestibular Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study

Summary & key facts

This cross-sectional study measured 130 adults (52 men, 78 women; ages 18–75) with dizziness from four causes: BPPV, Meniere’s disease, unilateral weakness, and central causes. Researchers used the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) to measure disability and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to measure anxiety. They found no significant differences in disability or anxiety between the four groups, but higher anxiety scores were significantly linked with higher disability scores.

Key facts:

• The study included 130 patients: 52 male and 78 female, age range 18–75 years.
• Patients were grouped by cause of vertigo: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere’s disease (MD), unilateral weakness (UW), and central causes.
• Disability was measured with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Anxiety was measured with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
• There were no significant differences in total DHI scores or DHI subcomponent scores among the four groups (p > 0.05).
• BAI scores did not differ significantly among the four groups (one-way ANOVA p = 0.158).
• There was a significant positive correlation between BAI scores and total DHI and DHI subcomponent values, meaning higher anxiety scores were associated with higher reported disability.
• The study used an analytic cross-sectional design, so all measurements were taken at a single point in time.

Abstract

Introduction Patients with dizziness and vertigo usually experience psychological, physical, and social functioning limitations that may affect their daily living activities. In order to better understand disability and anxiety in patients with vertigo, in the present study we aimed to investigate the correlation between disability and anxiety in four different types of diseases causing vertigo. Moreover, the difference between the observed disabilities in these etiologies of vertigo was studied. Materials and methods In this analytic cross-sectional design, 130 patients (52 male, 78 female; age range: 18-75 years) with dizziness/vertigo who were referred to our balance clinic participated. All patients underwent a detailed diagnostic procedure including neurological, clinical, and otological evaluations. Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to assess handicap and anxiety, respectively. Results There were no significant differences in "total DHI" and DHI subcomponent scores among different study populations (p>0.05). In terms of the BAI score, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test indicated no significant differences among the four groups (p=0.158). Our results exhibited a significant positive correlation between the BAI and "total DHI" and "DHI subcomponents" values. Conclusion The degree of disability and anxiety is not different between patients with Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's disease (MD), unilateral weakness (UW), and central causes. The significant positive correlation between the BAI and "total DHI" and "DHI subcomponents" values shows that the possibility of anxiety in patients with vertigo should not be ignored.

Topics

Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research Vestibular and auditory disorders

Categories

Life Sciences Neurology Neuroscience

Tags

Analysis of variance Anxiety Audiology Beck Anxiety Inventory Beck Depression Inventory Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Etiology Internal medicine Medicine Pediatrics Physical therapy Psychiatry Surgery Vertigo