title: Mal de debarquement syndrome: a systematic review.
abstract: Mal de debarquement (MdD) is a subjective perception of self-motion after exposure to passive motion, in most cases sea travel, hence the name. Mal de debarquement occurs quite frequently in otherwise healthy individuals for a short period of time (several hours). However, in some people symptoms remain for a longer period of time or even persist and this is then called mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS). The underlying pathogenesis is poorly understood and therefore, treatment options are limited. In general, limited studies have focused on the topic, but the past few years more and more interest has been attributed to MdDS and its facets, which is reflected by an increasing number of papers. Till date, some interesting reviews on the topic have been published, but a systematic review of the literature is lacking and could help to address the shortcomings and flaws of the current literature. We here present a systematic review of MdD(S) based on a systematic search of medical databases employing predefined criteria, using the terms "mal de debarquement" and "sea legs". Based on this, we suggest a list of criteria that could aid healthcare professionals in the diagnosis of MdDS. Further research needs to address the blank gaps by addressing how prevalent MdD(S) really is, by digging deeper into the underlying pathophysiology and setting up prospective, randomized placebo-controlled studies to evaluate the effectiveness of possible treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium. angelique.vanombergen@uantwerpen.be.|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. angelique.vanombergen@uantwerpen.be.|Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. angelique.vanombergen@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Angelique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Ombergen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem (Antwerp), Belgium.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Van Rompaey
authors.affiliation: Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.|Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Leen K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem (Antwerp), Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Van de Heyning
authors.affiliation: Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.|Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Floris L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Wuyts
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014195:Travel; D000076082:Travel-Related Illness
keywords: Mal de debarquement; Mal de debarquement syndrome; Sea legs; Systematic review