title: Patients with long-lasting dizziness: a follow-up after neurotological and psychotherapeutic inpatient treatment after a period of at least 1 year.
abstract: Patients who experience chronic dizziness are considered to be difficult to treat. Persisting symptoms of vertigo can be caused by recurrent organic as well as a variety of psychogenic factors, the latter usually being part of anxiety and depression disorders. Psychotherapeutic interventions can achieve improvements, the effects, however, in general do not persist over a longer time. The purpose of this study is to investigate the long-term effects of a symptom-related indoor treatment including neurotological and psychotherapeutic approaches as well as vestibular and balance rehabilitation. 23 indoor patients 16 male patients and 7 female., mean age 56.6 years (SD 12) with chronic vestibular symptoms (longer than six months), who were treated with neurotological counseling, psychotherapy, vestibular and balance rehabilitation and-if necessary-antidepressant drugs during a lengthy hospital stay [average 40 days (SD 14)], were re-examined. After a time period of at least one year (average 32 months; SD 15) they were asked to answer a questionnaire concerning post-therapeutic status of dizziness, symptoms and coping strategies as well as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS D). 18 of 23 patients (78%) reported a sustained reduction in their vertiginous symptoms. Four patients did not report a persistent improvement and one even got worse. Patients with a chronic form of dizziness can improve through a coordinated neurotologic and psychotherapeutic approach including vestibular and balance rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Tinnitus-Klinik im Krankenhaus Bad Arolsen, Große Allee 50, 34454, Bad Arolsen, Germany, hschaaf@tinnitus-klinik.net.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schaaf
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hesse
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents