The Basic Symptom Inventory-53 and its use in the management of patients with psychogenic dizziness.
OBJECTIVE
To identify an accurate psychological screening questionnaire to assist in the management of patients with psychogenic dizziness.


METHODS
Patients referred to the Balance Center of the University of Pennsylvania with a presumptive diagnosis of psychogenic dizziness based on neurotologic assessment were administered a Basic Symptom Inventory-53 (BSI-53) psychological screening questionnaire and were referred for psychiatric assessment. Neither the patients nor the psychiatrist were aware of the results of the BSI-53. The results of the neurotologic assessment, the BSI-53, and the psychiatric assessment were then compared for their degree of association.


RESULTS
Strong associations were demonstrated between the results of the BSI-53 questionnaire and the results of the neurotologic and psychiatric assessments.


CONCLUSIONS
The BSI-53 is an easily administered, objective, and accurate tool useful in identifying the presence of psychopathology in patients thought to have psychogenic dizziness. It is recommended as a valuable addition to the battery of tests performed when evaluating the dizzy patient.
Ruckenstein
M J
MJ
Balance Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. Ruckensm@uphs.upenn.edu
Staab
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged