Antidepressants and dizziness.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical therapeutic significance of sleep disruption and admitted depression in patients with nonspecific dizziness.


METHODS
Retrospective database review.


METHODS
Large tertiary care clinical practice.


METHODS
Answers to questions about sleep disruption and depression from 137 patients who met inclusion criteria for nonspecific dizziness and a comparison group of 39 patients were contrasted. The Pearson chi-square test was used to determine the statistical significance of the results.


METHODS
Six weeks after beginning antidepressant therapy, patients were asked if their symptoms improved significantly.


RESULTS
Patients with nonspecific dizziness reported more sleep disruption and admitted to depression more frequently than the comparison group. Persons with sleep disruption were more likely to respond to antidepressant therapy than those without sleep disruption.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Sleep disruption is common in persons with nonspecific dizziness. (2) Nonspecific dizziness may respond to antidepressant therapy, particularly in patients who report sleep disruption and/or depression.
Blakley
B W
BW
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.
D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004244:Dizziness / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic