C. Costa1,2, C. Costa1,2, P. Dunlap3, C. Hoppes4, B. Klatt2, P. Sparto2, J. Furman5, S. Whitney2
1University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, 2University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physical Therapy, Pittsburgh, United States, 3University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology, Pittsburgh, United States, 4Army-Baylor University DPT Program, Texas, United States, 5University of Pittsburgh, Department of Otolaryngology, Pittsburgh, United States
Background: Visual vertigo, a common complaint of persons with dizziness when they are exposed to visually complex scenes, usually is attributed to being overly reliant on visual input for postural control. Anxiety and depression are more highly prevalent in individuals with vestibular disorders compared with the general population, but their association with visual vertigo and a person’s function is not well known.
Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between visual vertigo ratings, anxiety, depression and the patient’s perception of their function.
Methods: A convenience sample of 122 subjects from 18 to 88 years of age (55.4 ± 15.6), 43 males 79 females, with vestibular disorders were recruited from a tertiary outpatient balance center and outpatient physical therapy clinics. After obtaining informed consent, patient demographic characteristics were collected. Patients were asked to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale (VVAS), and the Patient´s Perception of Function (PPF). Spearman correlation coefficients were used to determine the associations among the measures.
Results: There was a significant weak to moderate positive relationship between the VVAS and the HADS Anxiety subscale (ρ = 0.31, p < 0.001). The VVAS demonstrated a weak to moderate positive correlation with the HADS Depression subscale (ρ = 0.45, p < 0.001). The PPF showed a weak to moderate negative correlation to the VVAS (ρ = - 0.44, p < 0.0010). There was a significant negative correlation between the PPF and the HADS Anxiety (ρ = - 0.26, p < 0.004) and HADS Depression (ρ = - 0.59, p < 0.0010) subscales.
Conclusion(s): Higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms were associated with increased visual vertigo ratings. With better ratings of their function, persons reported less symptoms on the VVAS and lower levels of anxiety and depression symptoms.
Implications: Visual vertigo complaints are related with anxiety, depression and patient´s perception of function in persons with vestibular disorders. The observation of these variables correlation with the visual vertigo symptom is relevant to understand the cognitive-behavioral context of the patient, and therefore develop specific intervention strategies, as well as motivate studies for the underlying neuro physiopathological mechanisms.
Funding, acknowledgements: Funding from the SHRS Research Development Fund, University of Pittsburgh and through the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy Adopt-a-Doc Award.
Keywords: Visual Vertigo;, Anxiety; Depression;, Patient´s Perception of Function
Topic: Neurology
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Committee: University of Pittsburgh
Ethics number: STUDY19030119
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
