title: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and post-treatment quality of life.
abstract: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is probably the most common cause of vertigo. It is characterized by acute short-lived episodes of severe vertigo in association with change in the position of the head. This condition is benign, and after the repositioning procedure, the cure rate is between 70 to 80%. Numerous studies describe the association between vertigo and social handicap and emotional disturbance. In our study, we report for the first time the level of anxiety and social consequences, tested with the Hamilton anxiety scale and vertigo handicap questionnaire, in a group of patients who had suffered only from positional vertigo and were clinically cured when the questionnaires and test were administered. The important role played by psychological factors in maintaining or increasing the social consequences and perception of vertigo is revealed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Audiology and Phoniatrics Giorgio Ferreri, University La Sapienza Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magliulo
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertin
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014717:Vertigo / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy