Emotional and personal characteristics of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and their influence on development of functional dizziness

Abstract

Aim. To study the emotional and personal characteristics of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and their impact on the development of functional dizziness (FD).Materials and methods. 93 patients with BPPV were examined. Patients were twice examined (immediately after BPPV treatment and 1 month follow up) with scales: dizziness (DHI), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), somatic symptoms scale (PHQ-15), Holmes – Rahe Stress Inventory, Leonhard – Schmishek personality accentuation test, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and Agoraphobic Cognitions Scale.Results. Seventeen (18%) patients had FD1 month after BPPV treatment (FD+ group), 76 patients had no dizziness (FD– group). Immediately after BPPV treatment patients FD+ group had more hight results of DHI (57 [49; 68] vs 49 [33; 61], p = 0.035), GAD-7 (13 [7; 15] vs 4 [2; 7]), p < 0.001) and PHQ-9 (9 [6; 13] vs 5 [3; 11], p = 0.025). One month after BPPV treatment, the level of depression in the FD+ group was higher (4.5 [4; 11] vs 3 [1; 6], p = 0.049), but the level of anxiety decreased and became comparable with the FD– group (p = 0.2). In the FD+ group had found higher rates of anxious personal accentuation (15 [12; 18] vs 12 [9; 15]; p = 0.020), anxious sensitivity (55.5 [43; 68.5] vs 36.5 [22.5; 53.5]; p = 0.010), as well as agoraphobia (11 [9; 18] vs 6 [2; 9], p = 0.003). The level of psychosocial stress did not differ between the groups.Conclusion. Anxiety-depressive reaction is common in patients with BPPV. Anxiety and depression decrease after successful treatment with repositioning maneuvers. High levels of anxiety and depression, personal anxiety and anxiety sensitivity may be predictors of the development of functional dizziness.