Depressive symptoms underestimated in vertiginous patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of depression in a group of vertiginous patients gathered by the use of a questionnaire.


METHODS
Prospective study on 100 randomly selected vertiginous individuals, who were invited for further investigations to the Helsinki University ENT clinic. They also filled in a Beck Depression Index, Zung anxiety scale and DIP-Q, which are self-rating scales to investigate psychiatric symptoms.


RESULTS
The prevalence of depression was 19%, and affected more men than women No significant differences appeared in ENT diagnoses or symptoms between depressed and nondepressed patients. Depression correlated positively with vertiginous relatives (P < 0.01) and subjective sense of disability (P < 0.01). Of depressed vertiginous patients, 89% were without appropriate antidepressive care.


CONCLUSIONS
Nearly 20% of vertiginous patients also have depressive symptoms. Assessment of psychiatric and psychosomatic symptoms should accompany neuro-otologic evaluation to achieve the best treatment strategy and prevent chronic outcome.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, South-Carelian Central Hospital, Lappeenranta, Finland. sirpa.ketola@ekshp.fi
Sirpa
S
Ketola
Mari
M
Havia
Björn
B
Appelberg
Erna
E
Kentala
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014717:Vertigo / Q000523:psychology*